Load Control System Having A Broadcast Controller With A Diverse Wireless Communication System

ABSTRACT

A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a plurality of electrical load includes a plurality of energy controllers. Each energy controller is operable to control at least one of the electrical loads. The load control system also includes a first broadcast controller that has a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna is arranged in a first position and the second antenna is arranged in a second position that is orthogonal to the first position. The broadcast controller is operable to transmit a first wireless signal via the first antenna and a second wireless signal via the second antenna. Each of the energy controllers is operable to receive at least one of the first and second wireless signals, and to control the respective load in response to the received wireless signal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of commonly-assigned U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/580,898, filed Dec. 28, 2011,entitled LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING INDEPENDENTLY-CONTROLLED UNITSRESPONSIVE TO A BROADCAST TRANSMITTER, of commonly-assigned U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/640,241, filed on Apr. 30, 2012,entitled LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING INDEPENDENTLY-CONTROLLED UNITSRESPONSIVE TO A BROADCAST TRANSMITTER, and commonly-assigned U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/654,562, filed Jun. 1, 2012,entitled LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING INDEPENDENTLY-CONTROLLED UNITSRESPONSIVE TO A BROADCAST TRANSMITTER, the entire disclosure of each ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Buildings, such as homes, office buildings, warehouses, factories, andthe like, often use load control systems for controlling electricalloads. Examples of electrical loads include electric lights, motorizedwindow treatments, fans, and other such energy-consuming devices. FIG. 1depicts such a load control system 10 in an example office building 11.

The load control system 10 may include one or more individual systems 12a-d. Depicted are three offices 14 a-c and one conference room 14 d—eachroom having its own individual system 12 a-d. Each individual system 12a-d may include at least one load control device, for example, awall-mounted dimmer switch 26, which may control an overhead light 18.The dimmer switch 24 may be responsive to an occupancy sensor 20.Specifically, the occupancy sensor 20 may detect when someone enters theroom and then send a control signal to the dimmer switch 24. The dimmerswitch 24, in response to the control signal, may turn on the overheadlight 18. Similarly, the dimmer switch 24 may also be responsive to alight sensor (not shown) for dimming the light based on how muchdaylight is present. The load control system 10 may also comprise amotorized window treatment 22 that may be responsive to the lightsensor. The dimmer switch 24, the occupancy sensor 20, the light sensor,and the motorized window treatment 22 may communicate wirelessly.

Because load control system 10 includes individually-operating systems12 a-d, the control devices of one individual system do not control thecontrol devices of another individual system. Likewise, the controldevices of one individual system do not respond to command signals fromcontrol devices of another individual system. For example, the occupancysensor 20 in the office 14 c adjacent to the conference room 14 d wouldnot control a dimmer switch 24 in the conference room 14 d. And, thedimmer switch 24 in the conference room 12 d would not respond to acontrol signal from the occupancy sensor 20 in the office 14 c nextdoor.

Having individual systems 12 a-d in the rooms 14 a-d is useful to theoccupants of the building 11. The individual systems 12 a-d arerelatively easy to install. For example, the individual systems 12 a-dcan be installed and tested room-by-room, often done in parallel withmultiple installers. The individual systems 12 a-d are relatively easyto maintain. Changes in one individual system can made without affectingother systems. The individual systems 12 a-d allow the load controlsystem 10 to be somewhat flexible, since additional individual systemscan be added to the building to allow for staged installations andgrowth over time. For example, the occupant of an office building maywish to install motorized window treatments in conference rooms firstbefore installing them in individual offices. Similarly, the operatormay wish to install occupancy sensors in the restrooms and storage roomsbefore rolling them out to the rest of the building.

However, there is a major drawback to using independently-operatingsystems 12 a-d in the building 11—no system-wide control and management.Because the independently-operating systems 102 a-d are completelyindependent, there is no mechanism for them to act in a coordinated wayacross the system as a whole. For example, demand response andwhole-building timeclock functions are two popular and usefulsystem-wide controls. An example demand response is when a load controlsystem makes system-wide adjustment, such as reducing total electricityconsumption, based on an indication from the electric utility—often whendemand on the electric utility is the greatest. A whole-buildingtimeclock function may include, for example, adjusting all of the lightsin one mode during the day and another mode afterhours. Because theseindependently-operating systems 12 a-d shown in FIG. 1 operatecompletely independently of each other, there is no mechanism foradjusting all of the independent units together in response to anindication from the electric utility or in response to a singletime-clock. These beneficial system-wide capabilities are not availableto a building with a load control system having conventional independentunits 12 a-d.

Accordingly, there is a need for a load control system that provides thebenefits of conventional independent units 102 a-d, as well as, enablessystem-wide functionality, such as demand response and whole-buildingtime clock functions.

SUMMARY

As described herein, a load control system for controlling a pluralityof electrical loads includes a plurality of independently-controlledunits (or sub-systems) having commanders for controlling energycontrollers, where the independent units are configured and operateindependent of each other. The load control system further comprises abroadcast controller, which transmits wireless signals to the energycontrollers of the independently-controlled units. For example, theenergy controllers of the independent units may operate according todifferent control algorithms (e.g., in different modes of operation) inresponse to the wireless signals received from the broadcast controller.Since the broadcast controller is adapted to communicate wirelessly withthe energy controllers of the independent units, e.g., viaradio-frequency (RF) signals, the broadcast controller may be installedwithout requiring additional wires to be run. The broadcast controllermay comprise two antenna oriented to provide spatial and polar diversityto provide for a total transmission area that is greater than twice thetransmission area if the broadcast controller only had one antenna.

The load control system may be easily installed and configured withoutthe need for a computer or an advanced commissioning procedure. Theindependently-controlled units may be independently programmed (i.e.,the energy controllers are configured to be responsive to the commandersof the respective independently-controlled unit). The load controlsystem may be easily upgraded to add new system functionality and to addmore commanders and energy controllers. Particularly, the broadcastcontroller may be added to the load control system after theindependently-controlled units are initially commissioned to add theglobal and central control of the independently-controlled units (suchas demand response control) without requiring the energy controllers andcommanders of the independently-controlled units to be reprogrammed,thus allowing for a short additional commissioning time. In addition,the broadcast controller may provide a simple out-of-box functionalityfor controlling the electrical loads when a demand response command isreceived by the load control system, where the out-of-box functionalityis easy to communicate and explain to potential customers of the loadcontrol system. Further, the operating characteristics and settings ofthe energy controllers of the load control system may be tuned to allowfor easy adjustment of system operation to improve occupant comfort andsatisfaction after the initial commissioning of the system.

The broadcast controller may be further operable to collect data (e.g.,energy usage information) for use is energy analysis of the load controlsystem. For example, the broadcast controller may be operable to logdata from one or more commanders that may be used to predict energysavings of the load control system before energy controllers areinstalled. The load control system may also provide feedback (such as anaudible sound) when the load control system adjusts the load in responseto the demand response command.

The commanders of the load control system may comprise, for example,occupancy sensors, vacancy sensors, daylight sensors, radiometers,cloudy-day sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, pressuresensors, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, air-qualitysensors, security sensors, proximity sensors, fixture sensors, partitionsensors, keypads, battery-powered remote controls, kinetic orsolar-powered remote controls, key fobs, cell phones, smart phones,tablets, personal digital assistants, personal computers, laptops,timeclocks, audio-visual controls, keycard switches, safety devices,power monitoring devices (such as power meters, energy meters, utilitysubmeters, and utility rate meters), central controllers, residential,commercial, or industrial controllers, or any combination of these inputdevices.

The energy controllers of the load control system may comprise one ormore of, for example, a dimming or switching ballast for driving agas-discharge lamp; a light-emitting diode (LED) driver for driving anLED light source; a dimming circuit for controlling the intensity of alighting load; a screw-in luminaire including a dimmer circuit and anincandescent or halogen lamp; a screw-in luminaire including a ballastand a compact fluorescent lamp; a screw-in luminaire including an LEDdriver and an LED light source; an electronic switch, controllablecircuit breaker, or other switching device for turning an appliance onand off; a plug-in load control device, controllable electricalreceptacle, or controllable power strip for each controlling one or moreplug-in loads (such as coffee pots and space heaters); a motor controlunits for controlling a motor load, such as a ceiling fan or an exhaustfan; a drive unit for controlling a motorized window treatment or amotorized projection screen; motorized interior or exterior shutters; athermostat for a heating and/or cooling system; a temperature controldevice for controlling a setpoint temperature of an HVAC systems; an airconditioner; a compressor; an electric baseboard heater controller; acontrollable damper; a variable air volume controller; a fresh airintake controller; a ventilation controller; a hydraulic valve for aradiator or radiant heating system; a humidity control unit; ahumidifier; a dehumidifier; a water heater; a boiler controller; a poolpump; a refrigerator; a freezer; a TV or computer monitor; a videocamera; an audio system or amplifier; an elevator; a power supply; agenerator; an electric charger, such as an electric vehicle charger; anenergy storage system; and an alternative energy controller.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a load controlsystem for controlling a plurality of electrical loads comprises aplurality of energy controllers, each energy controller operable tocontrol at least one of the electrical loads, and a first broadcastcontroller having first and second antennas, where the first antenna isarranged in a first position and the second antenna is arranged in asecond position that is orthogonal to the first position. The broadcastcontroller is operable to transmit a first wireless signal via the firstantenna and a second wireless signal via the second antenna. Each of theenergy controllers is operable to receive at least one of the first andsecond wireless signals, and to control the respective load in responseto the received wireless signal.

A broadcast controller for use in a load control system for controllingone or more electrical loads is also described herein. The load controlsystem includes at least one energy controller for controlling at leastone of the electrical loads. The broadcast controller comprises firstand second antennas, an RF communication circuit, and a control circuit.The RF communication circuit is operatively coupled to the first andsecond antennas for transmitting a first wireless signal via the firstantenna at a transmission frequency and a second wireless signal via thesecond antenna at the transmission frequency. The control circuit iscoupled to the RF communication circuit for causing the RF communicationcircuit to transmit the first wireless signal in a first time slot andthe second wireless signal in a second time slot.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a load controlsystem for controlling a plurality of electrical loads comprises a firstbroadcast controller having first and second antennas operable toreceive a wireless signal at the same time, where the first antenna isarranged in a first position and the second antenna is arranged in asecond position that is orthogonal to the first position. The broadcastcontroller comprises an RF communication circuit coupled to the firstand second antennas for receiving the wireless signal. The RFcommunication circuit generates a first received signal in response tothe reception of the wireless signal by the first antenna and a secondreceived signal in response to the reception of the wireless signal bythe second antenna. The broadcast controller further comprises a controlcircuit coupled to the RF communication circuit for receiving the firstand second received signals. The control circuit is operable to respondto the wireless signal received by the first and second antennas byprocessing the first and second received signals.

As described herein, an RF receiving device may comprise: (1) first andsecond antennas operable to receive a wireless signal at the same time,the first antenna arranged in a first position and the second antenna isarranged in a second position that is orthogonal to the first position;(2) a first RF receiver coupled to the first antenna for receiving thewireless signal and generating a first received signal; (3) a second RFreceiver coupled to the second antenna for receiving the wireless signaland generating a second received signal; and (4) a control circuitcoupled to the first and second RF receivers for receiving the first andsecond received signals, the control circuit operable to process thefirst and second received signals in order to respond to the wirelesssignal received by the first and second antennas.

A broadcast controller is described herein that may be communicationwith one or more independent units. Each of the one or more independentunits may include at least one commander and at least one energycontroller. The at least one energy controller may be operable tocontrol at least one electrical load in response to a control signalreceived from the at least one commander. The broadcast controller maycomprise a first antenna. The first antenna may be configured totransmit a first command signal to the at least one energy controller.The broadcast controller may also comprise a second antenna and thesecond antenna may be configured to transmit a second command signal tothe at least one energy controller. The at least one energy controllermay be configured to prioritize the first command signal or the secondcommand signal over the control signal received from the at least onecommander.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the invention that refers tothe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a prior art load control systemcomprising four independent units (e.g., sub-systems) consistent withembodiments.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a load control system comprising fourindependent units (e.g., sub-systems) and a broadcast controllerconsistent with embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a simple diagram of a load control system comprising twoindependent units (e.g., sub-systems) and a broadcast controlleraccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of a dimmer switch energy controllerconsistent with embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of two exemplary independent units consistent withembodiments.

FIG. 6A is a simplified perspective view of the broadcast controller ofthe load control system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6B shows a broadcast controller according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a simplified block diagram of the broadcast controller of theload control system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7B is a simplified block diagram of a broadcast controlleraccording to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A is a simplified flowchart of an operating mode adjustmentprocedure executed by an energy controller (e.g., a dimmer switch) whena digital message including an operating mode is received from thebroadcast controller of the load control system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8B is a simplified flowchart of a control procedure executed by thedimmer switch when a digital message is received from a commander of theload control system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8C is a simplified flowchart of an operating mode adjustmentprocedure executed by a temperature control device when a digitalmessage including an operating mode is received from the broadcastcontroller of the load control system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a simplified floor plan having three independent units that isused to illustrate how the load control system of FIG. 3 may operate ina standard demand response mode and an emergency demand response modeaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 10A-10C show example screenshots of a management view screen thatmay be displayed on a computing device of the load control system ofFIG. 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10D shows an example screenshot of a tuning screen that may bedisplayed on the computing device of the load control system of FIG. 3according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11A-11F illustrates an exemplary technique of a broadcastcontroller discovering the constituent devices of an independent unitconsistent with embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a simple diagram of a load control system comprising twoindependent units (e.g., sub-systems) and a broadcast controlleraccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a simplified front view of a user interface of a broadcastcontroller according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a simplified front view of a user interface of a broadcastcontroller according to an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunctionwith the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustrating theinvention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment that ispresently preferred, in which like numerals represent similar partsthroughout the several views of the drawings, it being understood,however, that the invention is not limited to the specific methods andinstrumentalities disclosed.

FIG. 2 depicts a load control system 100 employed in a building 101,where the load control system 100 includes the independent units 102 a,102 b, 102 c, and 102 d. Depicted also are three offices 104 a-c and oneconference room 104 d—each room having its own independent unit 102 a-d.As described herein, each independent unit 102 a-d may include at leastone commander and at least one energy controller, which both comprisecommunication nodes of the load control system 100. The at least oneenergy controller may be operable to control at least one electricalload in response to a control signal received from the at least onecommander. As shown in FIG. 2, the load control system 100 compriseswall-mounted dimmer switches 105, 106 and a motorized window treatment107, which are examples of energy controllers. The dimmer switch 105 maycontrol an overhead light 108 in the independent unit 102 c. Anoccupancy sensor 109 is depicted as an example of a commander.Similarly, a light sensor (not shown) may be a commander that controlsthe dimmer 105 and a motorized window treatment 107—dimming the lightand adjusting the shades based on how much daylight is present, forexample.

The load control system 100 also includes a broadcast controller 180(e.g., a broadcast transmitter) according to one or more embodimentsdescribed in greater detail herein. The broadcast controller 180 mayperform the system-wide (or building-wide) control of one or more of theenergy controllers (e.g., the dimmer switches 105, 106 and the motorizedwindow treatment 107) regardless of the independent units with which therespective energy controllers may be associated, for functions such as,but not limited to, demand response and/or timeclock-based functions.For example, to act on a demand response condition, the broadcastcontroller 180 may override the commanders of one or more of the energycontrollers (e.g., the dimmer switches 105, 106 and the motorized windowtreatment 107) and order those energy controllers to perform someload-shedding function (e.g., dimming or ambient light control). Thus,the broadcast controller 180 may operate to control energy controllersacross the various independent units 102 a-d (as well as across thevarious offices 104 a-c and the conference room 104 d).

FIG. 3 illustrates the load control system 100 comprising twoindependent units 120, 122 (e.g., sub-systems) according to a firstembodiment of the present invention. Each of the independent units 110,112 comprise one or more commanders (e.g., wireless transmitters) thatare operable to control one or more energy controllers (e.g., loadcontrol devices having wireless receivers or transceivers forcontrolling electrical loads in response to received wireless signals).The commanders may be operable to transmit, for example, radio-frequency(RF) signals to the energy controllers for controlling the respectiveloads. For example, the commanders may comprise one-way transmitters(i.e., transmit-only devices) that are only operable to transmit the RFsignals, and energy controllers may comprise one-way receivers (i.e.,receive-only devices) that are only operable to receive the RF signals.Alternatively, the commanders and the energy controllers may comprisetwo-way devices, each operable to both transmit and receive the RFsignals. The load control system 100 may comprise a mixture of one-wayand two-day commanders and energy controllers. As previously mentioned,the commanders and energy controllers serve as communication nodes ofthe load control system 100.

The independent units 110, 112 may be installed, for example, inseparate and at least partially-enclosed rooms in a common building andmay be adjacent to each other. The independent units 110, 112 are bothlocated within an area which is within the RF transmission range (i.e.,within the total transmission area) of the broadcast controller 180. Thecontrol devices of the independent units 110, 112 (i.e., the commandersand energy controllers) are configured (i.e., programmed) independent ofeach other, such that the energy controllers are operable to control theconnected loads in response to only the commanders of that independentunit (i.e., the independent units operate independently of each other).However, the energy controllers of both of the first and secondindependent units 110, 112 are all responsive to RF signals transmittedby the broadcast controller 180 of the load control system 100 as willbe described in greater detail below.

The commanders and the broadcast controller 180 may be operable totransmit digital messages to the load control devices via the RF signals(e.g., approximately 434 MHz) according to a predefined RF communicationprotocol, such as, for example, one of LUTRON CLEAR CONNECT, WI-FI,WI-MAX, BLUETOOTH, ZIGBEE, Z-WAVE, 6LoWPAN, KNX-RF, and ENOCEAN RADIOprotocols. Alternatively, the commanders and the broadcast controller180 could transmit the digital messages via a different wireless medium,such as, for example, infrared (IR) signals or sound (such as voice).Examples of RF lighting control systems are disclosed incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,442, issued May 18, 1999, entitledMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND DETERMINING THE STATUS OFELECTRICAL DEVICES FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,728,issued Oct. 12, 2004, entitled SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF DEVICES, the entiredisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The broadcast controller 180 and the energy controllers are operable tocommunicate (i.e., transmit and receive digital messages via the RFsignals) using a time division technique, i.e., the broadcast controller180 and the energy controllers transmit digital messages duringpredetermined time slots. An example of an RF load control system usingthe time division technique is described in greater detail incommonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/033,223, filedFeb. 19, 2008, entitled COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR A RADIO-FREQUENCYLOAD CONTROL SYSTEM, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference. When the commanders are one-way transmitters,the commanders are operable to repetitively transmit a single digitalmessage in a number of RF signals (i.e., in a number of packets) to theenergy controllers to reduce the likelihood of collisions of all of thetransmitted RF signals with RF signals transmitted by another controldevice (i.e., to improve the chance that the transmitted RF signals willget to the intended recipient). An example of a load control systemhaving both one-way and two-way communication devices is described ingreater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. 2012/0056712, published Mar. 8, 2012, entitled METHOD OF CONFIGURINGA TWO-WAY WIRELESS LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING ONE-WAY WIRELESS REMOTECONTROL DEVICES, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedby reference.

As shown in FIG. 3, the broadcast controller 180 is connected to anetwork 182 (e.g., a local area network or the Internet) via a networkcommunication link 184. The network communication link 184 may comprise,for example, a digital communication link operating in accordance with apredefined communication protocol (such as, for example, one ofEthernet, IP, WiFi, QS, DMX, BACnet, Modbus, LonWorks, and KNXprotocols). Alternatively, the network communication link 184 maycomprise a serial digital communication link, an RS-485 communicationlink, an RS-232 communication link, a digital addressable lightinginterface (DALI) communication link, or a LUTRON ECOSYSTEM communicationlink. The load control system 100 may further comprise anInternet-Protocol-enabled computing device, for example, a tablet 185(such as an iPad® tablet), a smart phone (such as an iPhone®, Android®,or Blackberry® smart phone), a personal computer (PC), or a laptop, fortransmitting digital messages to the broadcast controller 180 via thenetwork 182.

An electrical utility 183 may transmit demand response commands to thebroadcast controller 180 via the network 182 and/or networkcommunication link 184. In addition, the broadcast controller 180 may beresponsive to a timeclock command, a load shed command, a peak demandcommand, or time-of-day pricing information received via the network 182and/or network communication link 184. For example, the broadcastcontroller 180 may be operable to reduce the energy consumption of theenergy controllers in response to the time-of-day pricing information toduring times when the cost of electricity is expensive. Further, thebroadcast controller 180 may be responsive to XML data received from aWebServices interface via the network 182 and/or network communicationlink 184. The load control system 100 may comprise additional broadcastcontrollers 180 for transmitting digital messages to additionalindependent units. The broadcast controllers 180 may be operable tocommunicate with each other via the network 182 or via the RF signals.

As shown in FIG. 3, the energy controllers (i.e., load control devices)of the first independent unit 110 may comprise, for example, a dimmerswitch 210, a plug-in load control device (PID) 220, a temperaturecontrol device 230, and a contact-closure output (CCO) pack 240. Thecommanders of the first independent unit 110 may comprise a remotecontroller 250, an occupancy sensor 260, and a temperature sensor 270.The energy controllers of the second independent unit 112 may comprise adigital ballast controller 310, a motorized window treatment 320, and atemperature control device 330. The commanders (i.e., wirelesstransmitters) of the second independent unit 112 may comprise abattery-powered remote control 350, an occupancy sensor 360, and adaylight sensor 370. The occupancy sensors 260, 360, the daylight sensor370, and the temperature sensor 270 provide for automatic control of thevarious loads of the first and second independent units 110, 112, whilethe remote controls 250, 350 allow for manual override of the automaticcontrol of the loads. The first and second independent units 110, 112may comprise additional energy controllers and commanders. In addition,the load control system 100 may comprise additional independent units.

The dimmer switch 210 of the first independent unit 110 is adapted to becoupled in series electrical connection between an alternating-current(AC) power source (not shown) and a lighting load 212 for controllingthe amount of power delivered to the lighting load. The dimmer switch210 may be adapted to be wall-mounted in a standard electrical wallbox,or may alternatively be implemented as a table-top load control device.The dimmer switch 210 comprises a toggle actuator 214 and an intensityadjustment actuator 216. Actuations of the toggle actuator 214 toggle,i.e., turn off and on, the lighting load 212, while actuations of upperand lower portions of the intensity adjustment actuator 216 respectivelyincrease or decrease a present lighting intensity L_(PRES) of thelighting load between a minimum intensity L_(MIN) (e.g., approximately1%) to a maximum intensity L_(MAX) (e.g., approximately 100%). Thedimmer switch 210 is also operable to control the lighting load inresponse to the RF signals received from the remote control 250 andoccupancy sensor 260. The dimmer switch 210 is operable to fade thepresent lighting intensity L_(PRES) from a first intensity to a secondintensity over a fade time, such that the lighting intensity may beadjusted slowly and the intensity adjustment may not be noticed by auser of the space. The dimmer switch 210 also comprises a plurality ofvisual indicators 218, e.g., light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which arearranged in a linear array on the dimmer switch and are illuminated toprovide feedback of the intensity of the lighting load. An example of adimmer switch is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,919,issued Sep. 29, 1993, entitled LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICE, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Alternatively,the load control system 100 could comprise an electronic switch (notshown) that is operable to simply turn a lighting load or otherelectrical load on and off in response to actuations of a toggleactuator or receiving the RF signals.

The minimum intensity L_(MIN) and the maximum intensity L_(MAX) of thedimmer switch 210 may be adjusted using a tuning procedure. For example,a user may press and hold the toggle actuator 214 and the upper portionof the intensity adjustment actuator 216 for a predetermined amount oftime to enter a maximum intensity tuning mode. In one or moreembodiments, the user may substantially simultaneously (e.g. at the sametime, at the same instant, concurrent, and/or coincident) actuate thetoggle actuator 214 and the upper portion of the intensity adjustmentactuator 216 for a predetermined amount of time to enter the maximumintensity tuning mode. In the maximum intensity tuning mode, the dimmerswitch 210 blinks one of the visual indicators 218 that isrepresentative of the value of the maximum intensity L_(MAX). The usermay actuate the upper and lower portions of the intensity adjustmentactuator 216 to respectively raise and lower the value of the maximumintensity L_(MAX). The dimmer switch 210 may adjust the one of thevisual indicators that is blinking and/or the intensity of the lightingload 212 in response to actuations of the intensity adjustment actuator216 in the maximum intensity tuning mode. After the appropriate value ofthe maximum intensity L_(MAX) is selected, the user may actuate thetoggle actuator 214 to exit the maximum intensity tuning mode.Similarly, the user may press and hold the toggle actuator 214 and thelower portion of the intensity adjustment actuator 216 for thepredetermined amount of time to enter a minimum intensity tuning mode toadjust the value of the minimum intensity L_(MIN).

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary simplified block diagram of the dimmerswitch 210. The dimmer switch 210 comprises a controllably conductivedevice 2010 coupled in series electrical connection between the AC powersource 1002 and the lighting load 1004 for control of the powerdelivered to the lighting load. The controllably conductive device 2010may comprise a relay or other switching device, or any suitable type ofbidirectional semiconductor switch, such as, for example, a triac, afield-effect transistor (FET) in a rectifier bridge, or two FETs inanti-series connection. The controllably conductive device 2010 includesa control input coupled to a drive circuit 2012.

The dimmer switch 210 further comprises a microprocessor 2014 coupled tothe drive circuit 2012 for rendering the controllably conductive device2010 conductive or non-conductive to thus control the power delivered tothe lighting load 2004. The microprocessor 2014 may alternativelycomprise a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmablegate array (FPGA), or any suitable processing device or control circuit.A zero-crossing detector 2015 determines the zero-crossings of the inputAC waveform from the AC power supply 2002. A zero-crossing may be thetime at which the AC supply voltage transitions from positive tonegative polarity, or from negative to positive polarity, at thebeginning of each half-cycle. The microprocessor 2014 receives thezero-crossing information from the zero-crossing detector 2015 andprovides the control inputs to the drive circuit 4012 to render thecontrollably conductive device 2010 conductive and non-conductive atpredetermined times relative to the zero-crossing points of the ACwaveform. The dimmer switch 210 may further comprise an audible soundgenerator (not shown) for generating an audible sound.

The microprocessor 2014 receives inputs from mechanical switches 2016that are mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown) of the dimmerswitch 210, and are arranged to be actuated by the toggle actuator (notshown) and an intensity adjustment actuator (not shown). Themicroprocessor 2014 also controls light emitting diodes 2018, which arealso mounted on the printed circuit board. The light-emitting diodes2018 may be arranged to illuminate one or more status indicators (notshown) on the front surface of the dimmer switch 210, for example,through a light pipe structure (not shown). The microprocessor 2014 isalso coupled to a memory 2020 for storage of one or more uniqueidentifiers (e.g., addresses) of the dimmer switch 210, instructions forcontrolling the lighting load 2004, programming instructions forcommunicating via a wireless communication link, or the like. The memory2020 may be implemented as an external integrated circuit (IC) or as aninternal circuit of the microprocessor 2014. A power supply 2022generates a direct-current (DC) voltage V_(CC) for powering themicroprocessor 2014, the memory 2020, and other low voltage circuitry ofthe dimmer switch 210.

The dimmer switch 210 further includes a wireless communication module2030 for transmitting and/or receiving the RF signals to and from itsrespective commanders and/or the broadcast controller 180. The wirelesscommunication module 2030 may comprise an RF transceiver and an antenna.Examples of antennas for wall-mounted dimmer switches are described ingreater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,103, issued Nov. 9, 1999, and U.S.Pat. No. 7,362,285, issued Apr. 22, 2008, both entitled COMPACT RADIOFREQUENCY TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING ANTENNA AND CONTROL DEVICEEMPLOYING SAME, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporatedby reference.

The dimmer switch 210 further comprises an optical module 2040, such asan optical signal receiving circuit for example. The optical module 2040may be optically coupled to an optical receiver (not shown). The opticalmodule 2040 may be coupled to the optical receiver on the front surfaceof the dimmer switch 210, for example, through a light pipe (not shown),such that the optical module 2040 may receive optical signals from oneor more commanders (e.g., the tablet 185 or the smart phone) and/or thebroadcast controller 180 via the light pipe. For example, the opticalmodule 2040 may comprise a photodiode (not shown) that is responsive tothe optical signals transmitted by the commanders and/or the broadcastcontroller 180. In addition, the photodiode of the optical module 2040may be controlled by the microprocessor 2014, so as to transmit opticalsignals to the one or more commanders and/or the broadcast controller180, for example. An example of a method of optically transmittingdigital information to a load control device is described in greaterdetail in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/538,665,filed Jun. 29, 2012, entitled METHOD OF OPTICALLY TRANSMITTING DIGITALINFORMATION FROM A SMART PHONE TO A CONTROL DEVICE, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The microprocessor 2014 may determine the module from which the signalsare received, e.g., from the wireless communication module 2030 or theoptical module 2040, and the controllably conductive device 2010 may becontrolled based on those signals. The microprocessor 2014 may alsotransmit messages to the one or more commanders and/or the broadcastcontroller 180 via optical signals or digital messages transmitted viathe RF signals. For example, the microprocessor 2014 of the dimmerswitch 210 may be used to transmit digital messages to the one or morecommanders and/or the broadcast controller 180 via wirelesscommunication. The digital messages may include alerts and/or feedbackand status information regarding the lighting load 2004. The digitalmessages may also include error messages or indications as to whetherthe dimmer switch 210 is able to communicate via a wirelesscommunication link or RF signal, for example.

Referring to FIG. 3 again, the plug-in load control device 220 of thefirst independent unit 110 is adapted to be plugged into a standardelectrical receptacle 222 for receiving power from the AC power source.The plug-in load control device 220 controls the power delivered to aplug-in electrical load 224 (such as, for example, a table lamp or otherlighting load, or a television or other appliance), which is pluggedinto the plug-in load control device. For example, the plug-in loadcontrol device 220 may be operable to switch the plug-in load 224 on andoff in response to the RF signals received from the remote control 250and occupancy sensor 260. Alternatively, the plug-in load control device220 may be operable to control the amount of powered delivered to theplug-in electrical load 224, for example, to adjust the lightingintensity of a table lamp plugged into the plug-in load control device).In addition, the load control system 100 could alternatively comprise acontrollable electrical receptacle (not shown) having an integrated loadcontrol circuit for controlling plug-in loads, or a controllable circuitbreaker (not shown) for control of electrical loads that are not pluggedinto electrical receptacles, such as a water heater.

The digital ballast controller 310 of the second independent unit 112 isadapted to be coupled to one or more ballasts 312 for controlling theintensities of respective gas discharge lamps 314 (e.g., fluorescentlamps). The ballasts 312 may receive power from the AC power source andmay be coupled to the digital ballast controller 310 via a dedicatedwired digital communication link 316, such as a digital addressablelighting interface (DALI) communication link. The digital ballastcontroller 310 is operable to transmit digital messages to the ballasts312 for controlling the gas discharge lamps 314 in response to the RFsignals received from the remote control 350, the occupancy sensor 360,and the daylight sensor 370. Examples of digital electronic dimmingballasts are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat.No. 7,619,539, issued Nov. 17, 2009, entitled MULTIPLE-INPUT ELECTRONICDIMMING BALLAST WITH PROCESSOR, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,035,529, issued Oct.11, 2011, entitled DISTRIBUTED INTELLIGENCE BALLAST SYSTEM, the entiredisclosure of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Alternatively,the ballasts 312 may be two-wire ballasts operable to receive both powercommunication (i.e., digital messages) via two power lines from thedigital ballast controller 310 as described in greater detail in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/359,722, filed Jan. 27, 2012, entitledDIGITAL LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM PROVIDING POWER AND COMMUNICATION VIAEXISTING POWER WIRING, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

In addition, the ballasts 312 could be replaced by other types of energycontrollers (i.e., load control devices), such as, for example,light-emitting diode (LED) drivers for controlling the intensities ofLED light sources (i.e., LED light engines). Examples of LED drivers aredescribed in greater detail in co-pending, commonly-assigned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/813,908, filed Jun. 11, 2009, and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/416,741, filed Mar. 9, 2012, both entitled LOADCONTROL DEVICE FOR A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCE, the entiredisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The motorized window treatment 320 of the second independent unit 112(e.g., a roller shade) may be positioned in front of one or a window forcontrolling the amount of daylight entering the building. The motorizedwindow treatment 320 each comprise a flexible shade fabric 322 rotatablysupported by a roller tube 324. Each motorized window treatment 320 iscontrolled by an electronic drive unit (EDU) 326, which may be locatedinside the roller tube 324. The electronic drive unit 326 is operable torotate the respective roller tube 324 to move the bottom edge of theshade fabric 322 to a fully-open position and a fully-closed position,and to any position between the fully-open position and the fully-closedposition (e.g., a preset position). Specifically, the motorized windowtreatment 320 may be opened to allow more daylight to enter the buildingand may be closed to allow less daylight to enter the building. Inaddition, the motorized window treatment 320 may be controlled toprovide additional insulation for the building, e.g., by moving to thefully-closed position to keep the building cool in the summer and warmin the winter. Alternatively, the motorized window treatments 320 couldcomprise other types of daylight control devices, such as, for example,motorized draperies, roman shades, pleated shades, or blinds, tensionedroller shade systems for non-vertical windows (i.e., skylights),controllable window glazings (e.g., electrochromic windows),controllable exterior shades, or controllable shutters or louvers.Examples of motorized window treatments are described incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,783, issued Jan. 10, 2006,entitled MOTORIZED SHADE CONTROL SYSTEM, and U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2012/0261078, published Oct. 18, 2012, entitledMOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT, the entire disclosures of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

The temperature control devices 230, 330 of the first and secondindependent units 110, 112 are operable to control a heating,ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) control system (not shown) foradjusting a present temperature T_(PRES) of the building in which theload control system 100 is installed. The temperature control devices230 are each operable to determine the present temperature T_(PRES) inthe building and to control the HVAC system to thus adjust the presenttemperature in the building towards a setpoint temperature T_(SET). Forexample, the temperature sensor 270 may be operable to measure thepresent temperature T_(PRES) in the building and transmit the presenttemperature to the temperature control device 230 of the firstindependent unit 110 via the RF signals. In addition, the temperaturecontrol device 330 of the second independent unit 112 may comprise aninternal temperature sensor for measuring the present temperatureT_(PRES) in the building. Each temperature control device 230, 330 maycomprise a respective user interface 232, 332 having a temperatureadjustment actuator for adjusting the setpoint temperature T_(SET) and avisual display for displaying the present temperature T_(PRES) in thebuilding or the setpoint temperature T_(SET).

The contact-closure output pack 240 of the first independent unit 110 isoperable to control a damper 242 of the HVAC system for adjusting theamount of air flowing through the damper and thus the presenttemperature T_(PRES) in the room in which the damper is installed.Specifically, the contact-closure output pack 240 may be coupled to acontroller (e.g., a variable air volume controller) for a controllablemotor rotating the damper 242 between an open position and a closedposition to thus the airflow into the room. The contact-closure outputpack 240 is operable to determine the present temperature T_(PRES) inthe building in response to receiving the RF signals from thetemperature sensor 270 and to adjust the rotational position of thedamper 242 in the room to control the amount of air flowing into theroom through the damper and thus control the present temperatureT_(PRES). Alternatively, the contact-closure output pack 240 could becoupled to other types of electrical loads for turning the electricalloads on and off or changing the state of the load.

The battery-powered remote controls 250, 350 are operable to transmit RFsignals to the energy controllers of the first and second independentunits 110, 112, respectively, for controlling the various electricalloads in response to user actuations of a plurality of buttons of theremote controls (i.e., to provide manual override). The remote controls250, 350 each comprise an on button 252, 352, an off button 254, 354, araise button 255, 355, a lower button 256, 356, and a preset button 258,358. The remote controls 250, 350 may simply transmit digital messagesincluding a serial number of the remote control (i.e., a uniqueidentifier) as well as information regarding which of the buttons wasactuated to the various load control devices via the RF signals. Forexample, the dimmer switch 210 may turn the lighting load 212 on and offin response to actuations of the on button 252 and the off button 254 ofthe remote control 250, respectively. The dimmer switch 210 may raiseand lower the intensity of the lighting load 212 in response toactuations of the raise button 255 and the lower button 256,respectively. The dimmer switch 210 may control the intensity of thelighting load 212 to a preset intensity in response to actuations of thepreset button 258. Examples of battery-powered remote controls aredescribed in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No.8,330,638, issued Dec. 11, 2012, entitled WIRELESS BATTERY-POWEREDREMOTE CONTROL HAVING MULTIPLE MOUNTING MEANS, and U.S. Pat. No.7,573,208, issued Aug. 22, 1009, entitled METHOD OF PROGRAMMING ALIGHTING PRESET FROM A RADIO-FREQUENCY REMOTE CONTROL, the entiredisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The occupancy sensors 260, 360 are operable to transmit RF signals tothe energy controllers of the first and second independent units 110,112, respectively, for controlling the various electrical loads inresponse to detecting the presence or absence of an occupant in therooms in which the occupancy sensors are located. The occupancy sensors260, 360 each include an internal detector, e.g., a pyroelectricinfrared (PIR) detector, which is operable to receive infrared energyfrom an occupant in the space to thus sense the occupancy condition inthe space. Each occupancy sensor 260, 360 is operable to process theoutput of the PIR detector to determine whether an occupancy condition(i.e., the presence of the occupant) or a vacancy condition (i.e., theabsence of the occupant) is presently occurring in the space, forexample, by comparing the output of the PIR detector to a predeterminedoccupancy voltage threshold. Alternatively, the internal detector couldcomprise an ultrasonic detector, a microwave detector, or anycombination of PIR detectors, ultrasonic detectors, and microwavedetectors.

The occupancy sensors 260, 360 each operate in an “occupied” state or a“vacant” state in response to the detections of occupancy or vacancyconditions, respectively, in the space. If the occupancy sensor 260, 360is in the vacant state and the occupancy sensor determines that thespace is occupied in response to the PIR detector, the occupancy sensorchanges to the occupied state. The dimmer switch 210, the plug-in loadcontrol device 220, the temperature control device 230, and thecontact-closure output (CCO) pack 240 are responsive to the RF signalstransmitted by the occupancy sensor 260 of the first independent unit110, while the digital ballast controller 310, the motorized windowtreatment 320, and the temperature control device 330 are responsive tothe RF signals transmitted by the occupancy sensor 360 of the secondindependent unit 112.

The commands included in the digital messages transmitted by theoccupancy sensors 260, 360 may comprise an occupied command or a vacantcommand. For example, in response to receiving an occupied command fromthe occupancy sensor 260, the dimmer switch 210 may control theintensity of the lighting load 212 to an occupied intensity (e.g.,approximately 100%). In response to receiving a vacant command, thedimmer switch 210 may control the intensity of the lighting load 212 toa vacant intensity, which may be less than the occupied intensity (e.g.,approximately 0%, i.e., off). If there were more than one occupancysensor 260 in the first independent unit 110, the dimmer switch 210would control the intensity of the lighting load 212 to the occupiedintensity in response to receiving a first occupied command from any oneof the occupancy sensors, and to the vacant intensity in response to thelast vacant command received from those occupancy sensors from which theoccupancy sensor received occupied commands. The occupied intensity andthe vacant intensity may be adjusted using a tuning procedure similar tothe tuning procedure for the minimum intensity L_(MIN) and the maximumintensity L_(MAX) of the dimmer switch 210 described above.

Alternatively, the occupancy sensors 260, 360 each could be implementedas a vacancy sensor. The energy controllers that are responsive tovacancy sensors only operate to disconnect power from the controlledelectrical loads in response to the vacancy sensors. For example, thedimmer switch 210 would only operate to turn off the lighting load 212in response to receiving the vacant commands from the vacancy sensor.Examples of RF load control systems having occupancy and vacancy sensorsare described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No.8,009,042, issued Aug. 30, 2011, entitled RADIO-FREQUENCY LIGHTINGCONTROL SYSTEM WITH OCCUPANCY SENSING; U.S. Pat. No. 8,228,184, issuedJul. 24, 2012, entitled BATTERY-POWERED OCCUPANCY SENSOR; and U.S. Pat.No. 8,199,010, issued Jun. 12, 2012, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FORCONFIGURING A WIRELESS SENSOR, the entire disclosures of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

The daylight sensor 370 of the second independent unit 112 is mounted soas to measure a total light intensity in the space around the daylightsensor. The daylight sensor 370 is responsive to a total light intensityL_(TOT) measured by an internal photosensitive circuit, e.g., aphotosensitive diode. Specifically, the daylight sensor 370 is operableto wirelessly transmit digital messages including a value representativeof the total lighting intensity to the energy controllers of the secondindependent unit 112 via the RF signals. For example, the digitalballast controller 310 may control the ballasts 312 to decrease thelighting intensities of the gas discharge lamps 314 in response toincreases in the total lighting intensity L_(TOT) measured by thedaylight sensor 370. Examples of load control systems having daylightsensors are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2010/0244709, published Sep. 30, 2010,entitled WIRELESS BATTERY-POWERED DAYLIGHT SENSOR, and U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2010/0244706, published Sep. 30, 2010,entitled METHOD OF CALIBRATING A DAYLIGHT SENSOR, the entire disclosuresof which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The energy controllers (i.e., load control devices) of the load controlsystem 100 may further comprise, for example, one or more of a dimmingcircuit for controlling the intensity of an incandescent lamp, a halogenlamp, an electronic low-voltage lighting load, a magnetic low-voltagelighting load, or another type of lighting load; an electronic switch,controllable circuit breaker, or other switching device for turningelectrical loads or appliances on and off; a controllable electricalreceptacle or a controllable power strip for controlling one or moreplug-in electrical loads (such as coffee pots and space heaters); ascrew-in luminaire including a dimmer circuit and an incandescent orhalogen lamp; a screw-in luminaire including a ballast and a compactfluorescent lamp; a screw-in luminaire including an LED driver and anLED light source; a motor control unit for controlling a motor load,such as a ceiling fan or an exhaust fan; a drive unit for controlling amotorized projection screen; motorized interior or exterior shutters; athermostat for a heating and/or cooling system; an air conditioner; acompressor; an electric baseboard heater controller; a controllabledamper; a variable air volume controller; a fresh air intake controller;a ventilation controller; a hydraulic valve for a radiator or radiantheating system; a humidity control unit; a humidifier; a dehumidifier; awater heater; a boiler controller; a pool pump; a refrigerator; afreezer; a TV or computer monitor; a video camera; an audio system oramplifier; an elevator; a power supply; a generator; an electriccharger, such as an electric vehicle charger; an energy storage system(e.g., a battery, solar, or thermal energy storage system), and analternative energy controller (e.g., a solar, wind, or thermal energycontroller).

The commanders (i.e., wireless transmitters) of the load control system100 may further comprise, for example, a wall-mounted occupancy sensor,a radiometer, a cloudy-day or shadow sensor, a humidity sensor, apressure sensor, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, anair-quality sensor, a security sensor, a proximity sensor, a fixturesensor, a wall-mounted keypad, a remote control keypad, a kinetic orsolar-powered remote control, a key fob, a cell phone, a smart phone, atablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer, alaptop, a timeclock, an audio-visual control, a keycard switch, a safetydevice (such as, a fire protection, water protection, and medicalemergency device), a power monitoring device (such as a power meter, anenergy meter, a utility submeter, and a utility rate meter), atimeclock, a central controller, or any residential, commercial, orindustrial controller. In addition, the input devices may comprise oneor more partition sensors that transmit RF signals in dependence uponwhether a partition is opened or closed. Further, the input devices maycomprise a fixture sensor (e.g., a photosensor) that is located inside alighting fixture in order to determine the state of the light source ofthe lighting fixture (e.g., one or off) for data logging. Examples ofadditional energy controllers and commanders are described in greaterdetail in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2012/0091804, published Apr. 19, 2012, entitled LOAD CONTROL SYSTEMHAVING AN ENERGY SAVINGS MODE, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference. Further, the independent units 110, 112 couldeach just comprise energy controllers that are just responsive to thebroadcast controller 180 and are not responsive to any commanders.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, thebroadcast controller 180 primarily transmits digital messages to theenergy controllers of the independent units 110, 112. However thebroadcast controller 180 is also operable to receive digital messagesfrom the commanders and energy controllers of the independent units 110,112. Accordingly, the broadcast controller 180 may be operable tocollect data from the commanders and energy controllers of theindependent units 110, 112 of the load control system 100. The broadcastcontroller 180 may be operable to transmit a query message to the energycontrollers, in response to which the energy controllers transmit theappropriate data back to the broadcast controller.

The broadcast controller 180 may additionally be operable to log datafrom one or more commanders. The broadcast controller 180 may beoperable to log occupancy patterns, natural light patterns, glare andshadow patterns, and temperature patterns. The logged data may be usedto predict energy savings of the load control system 100 before energycontrollers are installed. For example, prior to the installation of theballasts 312 (i.e., when non-controllable and/or non-dim ballasts arecontrolling the lamps 314), the broadcast controller 180 may log datafrom the occupancy sensor 360, the daylight sensor 370, and fixturesensors located in the lighting fixtures in which the lamps 314 arelocated to determine if the energy savings could be provided if thecontrollable ballasts 312 are installed (e.g., due to turning the lightsoff when the space is unoccupied and/or due to dimming the lights whenthere is natural light shining into the space). The broadcast controller180 may also be operable to log data from the commanders and energycontrollers after the energy controllers are installed.

For example, the data collected by the broadcast controller 180 maycomprise operational characteristics and settings of the energycontrollers of the independent units 110, 112, number and type ofcommanders, present modes of operation, energy usage information, lightintensities of lighting loads, load failures, occupancy status ofspaces, ambient light levels measured by daylight sensors, presentcapacity of energy storage systems, and status of plug-in electricalloads (i.e., whether plug-in loads are plugged in or not). In addition,the broadcast controller 980 may be operable to determine additionaldata from the occupancy status information received from the occupancysensors 260, 360, for example, number of occupants, direction ofmovement of occupants, security information (such as rooms occupied byunauthorized individuals, energy saving due to reduced usage ofelectrical lights and heating and cooling in unoccupied rooms, roomutilization information (such as conference rooms that are not occupiedindicating that the conference rooms are presently available for use),building utilization information (such as information indicating thatthe building may be operated with more efficiency by consolidatingworkers), and employee status information (such as informationindicating that employees may be working all day or leaving early).

During separate setup procedures of each of the first and secondindependent units 110, 112 of the load control system 100, the energycontrollers of each independent unit may be associated with (i.e.,assigned to) one or more of the commanders of that specific independentunit. For example, the dimmer switch 210 may be assigned to theoccupancy sensor 260 by actuating buttons on both the dimmer switch andthe occupancy sensor. An example of an assignment procedure for RFcontrol devices is described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0111491, published May 15, 2008,entitled RADIO-FREQUENCY LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM, the entire disclosureof which is hereby incorporated by reference. Each energy controller maybe associated with a plurality of commanders, and each commander may beassociated with a plurality of energy controllers.

In addition, the operating characteristics and functionality of the loadcontrol system 100 may be programmed during the individual setupprocedures of the first and second independent units 120. For example,the energy controllers are associated with and programmed to beresponsive to the commanders. In addition, the preset intensity of thedimmer switch 210 may be programmed using the toggle actuator 214 andthe intensity adjustment actuator 216 of the dimmer switch or thebuttons 252-258 of the remote control 250. The first and secondindependent units 110, 112 may be configured using a walk-aroundprogramming procedure, for example, as described in greater detail inpreviously-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,442. Alternatively, the firstand second independent units 110, 112 could be configured using acomputer-aided programming procedure via a graphical user interface(GUI) software running on a computing device coupled to the network 182(e.g., the tablet 185, a smart phone, a personal computer, or a laptop)to create a database that defines the operation of the respectiveindependent unit. At least a portion of the database could be uploadedto the energy controllers of the respective independent unit 110, 112,such that the energy controllers know how to respond to the commandersduring normal operation.

As previously described, the energy controllers of the first and secondindependent units 110, 112 operate independent of each other, but areall responsive to digital messages transmitted by the broadcastcontroller 180. The broadcast controller 180 may be installed in theload control system 100 and assigned to the energy controllers of theindependent units 110, 112 after the independent units are configuredand operational without requiring the energy controllers and commandersof the independent units 110, 112 to be reprogrammed. Accordingly, withonly a short additional commissioning time, the broadcast controller 180may be added to the load control system 100 after the independent units110, 112 are initially commissioned to add the global and centralcontrol of the independently units.

The broadcast controller 180 is operable to determine the digitalmessages to be transmitted to the energy controllers of the first andsecond independent units 110, 112 in response to digital messagesreceived from the network 182 via the network communication link 184.The broadcast controller 180 may also be responsive to digital messagesreceived directly from a demand response remote control 186 via the RFsignals or a contact closure signal received from an external device. Inaddition, the broadcast controller 180 may be operable to transmit andreceive digital messages via two power lines connected to the broadcastcontrollers, i.e., via powerline communication (PLC) signals, forexample, as described in previously-referenced U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/359,722. Further, the broadcast controller 180 may also beoperable to calculate the present position of the sun and, for example,to control the motorized window treatments 320 to prevent sun glare asdescribed in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No.8,288,981, issued Oct. 16, 2012, entitled METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLYCONTROLLING A MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT WHILE MINIMIZING OCCUPANTDISTRACTIONS, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference.

FIG. 5 illustrates diagrams of further exemplary independent units 4001,4002. The independent unit 4001 includes a first and second batterypowered remote controls 4050, 4051, and occupancy sensor 4060, and adaylight sensor 4070, which function as commanders. The independent unit4001 also includes a dimmer switch 4010 and a motorized window treatment4020, which function as energy controllers. In the independent unit4001, the dimmer switch 4010 and the motorized window treatment 4020 mayrespond to signals from one or more commanders. For example, the dimmerswitch 4010 may respond to the signals transmitted by the first remotecontrol 4050, the occupancy sensor 4060, and the daylight sensor 4070.Also by way of example, the motorized window treatment 320 may respondto the signals transmitted by the daylight sensor 4070 and the remotecontrol 4051. The independent unit 4002 may include a third remotecontrol 4052 and a plug-in load control device (PID) 4021. For example,the PID 4021 may respond to the signal of the third remote control 4052.

FIG. 6A is a simplified perspective view of the broadcast controller180. The broadcast controller 180 comprises a diverse antenna systemhaving two antennas 190, 191 with different orientations (e.g., orientedorthogonally to each other) for polar diversity. In addition, theantennas 190, 191 are spaced apart from each other across a width d_(W)of the broadcast controller 180 for spatial diversity. For example, thewidth d_(W) of the broadcast controller 180 (i.e., the distance at whichthe antennas 190, 191 are spaced apart) may be equal to or greater thanapproximately one-quarter wavelength (e.g., approximately 6.8 incheswith a transmission frequency of approximately 434 MHz). The polar andspatial diversity of the antennas 190, 191 may lower interferencebetween transmitted RF signals (i.e., collisions) and reduce the amountof retransmissions that may be required from the broadcast controller180 to the energy controllers.

Accordingly, because of the polar and spatial diversity of the antennas190, 191, the broadcast controller 180 may be able to transmit the RFsignals over a greater transmission range (e.g., up to approximately 70feet) than the commanders of the first and second independent units 110,112 are able to transmit. This results in a total transmission area ofapproximately 15,000 square feet, which could alternatively range from,for example, approximately 5,000 to 15,000 square feet. In contrast, thetransmission range of the broadcast controller 180 would only beapproximately 30 feet if the broadcast controller only had one of theantennas 190, 191, resulting in a total transmission area ofapproximately 3,000 square feet. Accordingly, the use of two antennas190, 191 on the broadcast controller 180 results in an improvement inthe total transmission area that is greater than twice the transmissionarea with only one antenna. The polar and spatial diversity of theantennas 190, 191 also allows for an equivalent increase in thereception range and the total reception area of the broadcast controller180.

The broadcast controller 180 is adapted to be removably coupled to abase 192 that allows for electrical connection to the networkcommunication link 184 and to a power supply (not shown) for thebroadcast controller. The broadcast controller 180 comprises buttons 194for configuring and controlling the operation of the broadcastcontroller and the independent units 110, 112, and visual indicators 196(e.g., light-emitting diodes) for providing feedback to a user. Forexample, the broadcast controller 180 may be removed from the base 192and moved through a location, perhaps for the purpose of detectingand/or registering one more other nodes, such as, but not limited to,commander device (or nodes), energy controller device (or nodes), and/orother nodes that may be included in the independent units 120 and/or 122described in further detail herein. In addition, the broadcastcontroller 180 may be detachably installed above a ceiling (e.g., to ajunction box) or below a ceiling (e.g., flush mount to the surface ofthe ceiling) such that it can communicate directly and/or indirectlywith the one or more nodes registered with the broadcast controller 180.The broadcast controller 180 could alternatively be mounted to a wall orin an electrical closet.

FIG. 6B illustrates a simplified diagram of a broadcast controller 180′according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Broadcastcontroller 180′ may perform the same or similar functions as thosedescribed for the broadcast controller 180 as shown in FIG. 6A. Thebroadcast controller 180 comprises two orthogonally-oriented antennas190′, 191′. The first antenna 190′ comprises an electrically-conductivematerial (i.e., a trace) displaced on a printed circuit board 192′inside the broadcast controller 180′ and is fixed in position. Thesecond antenna 191′ extends from the broadcast controller 180′ and isable to rotate 360°. However, the second antenna 191′ is always oriented90° from the first antenna 190′ to allow for polar diversity. Therotation of the second antenna 191′ simplifies the installation of thebroadcast controller 180′ since the broadcast controller may be mountedto a horizontal surface (e.g., a ceiling) or to a vertical surface(e.g., a wall), and the second antenna 191′ may be rotated accordingly,for example, to point towards the floor.

FIG. 7A is a simplified block diagram of the broadcast controller 180according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Thebroadcast controller 180 includes a microprocessor 3010, which mayalternatively comprise a microcontroller, a programmable logic device(PLD), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield-programmable gate array (FPGA), or any suitable processing deviceor control circuit. The microprocessor 3010 is coupled to two RFcommunication circuits (e.g., two RF transceivers 3012, 3014), which arecoupled to the first and second antennas 190, 191, respectively, fortransmitting the RF signals at the same frequency (e.g., approximately434 MHz). Alternatively, the RF communication circuits could simplycomprise RF transmitters or RF receivers. The microprocessor 3010 mayemploy one or more algorithms to control the allocation resources of thetwo antennas 190, 191 to either one of the RF transceivers 3012, 3014 ofthe broadcast controller 180 or to both of the RF transceivers 3012,3014. In some embodiments, the microprocessor 3010 may employ one ormore algorithms to use the two antennas 190, 191 for multi-inputmulti-output (MIMO) techniques, two antennas transmit and/orbeamforming, for example.

As previously mentioned, the broadcast controller 180 (as well as theenergy controllers) are operable to transmit digital messages inpredetermined time slots according to the time division technique.Accordingly, the broadcast controller 180 may be operable to transmitdigital messages on the two antennas 190, 191 in two differentrespective time slots. For example, the microprocessor 3010 may beoperable to cause the first RF transceiver 3012 to transmit a first RFsignal via the first antenna 190 in a first time slot, and to cause thesecond RF transceiver 3014 to transmit a second RF signal via the secondantenna 191 in a second time slot. The first and second RF signals maycomprise the same digital message (i.e., the same command, query, data,etc.). The first and second time slots are not overlapping and the firsttime slot may occur immediately before the second time slot.Alternatively, the first and second RF transceivers 3012, 3014 maytransmit the first and second RF signals in randomly-selected timeslots, for example, selected from a number of non-overlapping timeslots. When the load control system 100 comprises additional broadcastcontrollers, the other broadcast controllers may be operable to transmitin additional time slots (i.e., different than the first and second timeslots).

The broadcast controller 180 may be operable to receive an RF signaltransmitted in a single time slot by one of the commanders or energycontrollers via both of the first and second antennas 190, 191, i.e., atthe same time. The first RF transceiver 3012 may be operable to generatea first received signal in response to the reception of the RF signal bythe first antenna 190 and the second RF transceiver 3014 may be operableto generate a second received signal in response to the reception of theRF signal by the second antenna 191. The microprocessor 3010 may beoperable to receive the first and second received signals and to respondto the wireless signal received by the first and second antennas 190,191 by processing the first and second received signals. For example,the microprocessor 3010 may be operable to decode the first and secondreceived signals and to respond to the one of the first and secondreceived signals that is first decoded. Alternatively, themicroprocessor 3010 may be operable to determine which of the first andsecond received signals has a greater signal strength and to respond tothe received signal having the greater signal strength. In addition, themicroprocessor 3010 may be operable to combine the first and secondreceived signals and to respond to the combined signal.

In one or more embodiments, the broadcast controller 180 may employ oneor more algorithms to permit the allocation of one or more transmissionslots per each respective antenna of the two antennas 190, 191. Forexample, the broadcast controller 180 may assign a first radio (i.e.,the RF transceiver 3012) one or more transmission slots of one of thetwo antennas 190, 191 and may assign to the first radio the sametransmission slots, or one or more different transmission slots of asecond of the two antennas 190, 191. By way of further example, thebroadcast controller 180 may assign a second radio one or moretransmission slots of one or both of the two antennas 190, 191 that maybe different from the transmission slots assigned to the first radio. Inother embodiments, the two antennas 190, 191 may be used to receivesignals from the one or more devices (or nodes) with which the broadcastcontroller 180 may communicate (e.g., commanders or energy controllers,among others). For example, an algorithm of the broadcast controller 180may evaluate a checksum or other quality control measurementrespectively associated with the two antennas 190, 191 to determinewhich signals (or packets, etc.) received via the two antennas 190, 191may be more reliable and/or may satisfy a predetermined qualitythreshold.

Because there are regulatory limitations on the power of radiotransmissions, the broadcast controller 180 may employ one or morealgorithms to control the broadcast transmit power of the one or more RFsignals transmitted from the two antennas 190, 191. For example, thebroadcast controller 180 may use the two antennas 190, 191 torespectively transmit signals at or below the regulated transmit powerlimitations, thereby effectively increasing the transmission range ofthe one or more radios used by the broadcast controller 180.

The broadcast controller 180 may be configured to transmit a firstcommand signal to the at least one energy controller via the firstantenna 190 and may be configured to transmit a second command signal tothe at least one energy controller via the second antenna 191. The atleast one energy controller may be configured to prioritize the firstcommand signal or the second command signal over the control signalreceived from the broadcast controller 180. The broadcast controller 180may be configured to assign the first command signal a designatedtransmission slot of the first antenna 190 and to assign the secondcommand signal a designated transmission slot of the second antenna 191.The broadcast controller 180 may be configured to determine a firsttransmission power for the first command signal and to determine asecond transmission power for the second command signal. The broadcastcontroller 180 may also be configured to transmit the first commandsignal via the first antenna 190 at or below the first transmissionpower and to transmit the second command signal via the second antenna191 at or below the second transmission power.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the microprocessor 180 is operable to receive theuser inputs from the buttons 194 and to illuminate the visual indicators196 to provide feedback. The broadcast controller 180 may also comprisean audible sound generator 3016 for providing feedback to the userduring configuration and normal operation. The microprocessor 3010 isalso coupled to a memory 3018 for storage of the operatingcharacteristics of the broadcast controller 180. The memory 3018 may beimplemented as an external integrated circuit (IC) or as an internalcircuit of the microprocessor 3010. The microprocessor 3010 is operableto be connected to the network communication link 184 via acommunication circuit 3020 (e.g., an Ethernet communication circuit) anda network connection port 3022. The broadcast controller 180 alsocomprises a contact closure input circuit 3024 for receiving the contactclosure signal received from the external device via a contact closureport 3026.

The broadcast controller 180 may comprise one or more rechargeablebatteries 3030 for generating a battery voltage V_(BATT) for poweringthe microprocessor 3010, the RF transceivers 3012, 3014, and the otherlow-voltage circuitry of the broadcast controller. The broadcastcontroller 180 may be adapted to receive AC line voltage or a DC voltagevia a power port 3032 (e.g., a USB port). The batteries 3030 areoperable to charge from the power port 3032 via a charging circuit 3034when the broadcast controller 180 is connected to the base 192. Thebroadcast controller 180 may be removed from the base 192 and relocatedto simplify the configuration procedure of the load control system 100.Alternatively, the broadcast controller 180 may comprise an internalpower supply (rather than the batteries 3030) and may always be poweredthrough the power port 3032.

FIG. 7B is a simplified block diagram of a broadcast controller 180″according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Thebroadcast controller 180″ has similar functional blocks as the broadcastcontroller 180 shown in FIG. 7A. However, the broadcast controller 180″has a single RF communication circuit (e.g., an RF transceiver 3012″)rather than the two separate RF transceivers 3012, 3014 of the broadcastcontroller 180 shown in FIG. 7A. The RF transceiver 3012″ is coupled tothe two antennas 190, 191 through an RF switch 3013″. A microprocessor3010″ is able to control the position of the RF switch 3013″ and whichof the two antennas 190, 191 is coupled to the RF transceiver 3012″ andis thus transmitting RF signals. Specifically, the microprocessor 3010″is operable to control the RF switch 3013″ to a first position to couplethe RF transceiver 3012″ to the first antenna 190 to transmit a firstwireless signal in a first time slot, and to control the RF switch to asecond position to couple the RF transceiver to the second antenna 190to transmit a second wireless signal in a second time slot, which mayoccur immediately after the first time slot. When the broadcastcontroller 180″ is not transmitting RF signals, the microprocessor 3010″may lock the RF switch 3013″ in one position, such that only one of theantennas 190, 191 is able to receive the RF signals. For example, forthe broadcast controller 180′ shown in FIG. 6B, the microprocessor 3010″may control the RF switch 3013″ to the second position such that thesecond (and adjustable) antenna 191′ is able to receive the RF signals.

The energy controllers may be associated with the broadcast controller180 during or after the configuration procedures of each of the firstand second independent units 110, 112. For example, the broadcastcontroller 180 may be installed in the load control system 100 andassociated with the energy controllers of the independent units 110, 112after the independent units are configured and operational. The energycontrollers that are associated with the broadcast controller 180 arethen responsive to the digital messages transmitted by the broadcastcontroller. For example, one of the energy controllers may be associatedwith the broadcast controller 180 by actuating a button on the energycontroller until the energy controller enters an association mode, andthen actuating one of the buttons 194 on the broadcast controller. Thebroadcast controller 180 may transmit a broadcast address to the energycontroller, which may then save the broadcast address received from thebroadcast controller. The broadcast controller 180 may flash one of thevisual indicators 196 and/or may generate an audible sound when theassociation with the energy controller is completed. The broadcastcontroller 180 may be removed from the base 192 and moved close to theenergy controllers to simplify the configuration procedure.

Alternatively, the broadcast controller 180 could be first put into anassociation mode in response to the actuation of the buttons 194 andthen could repetitively transmit out the broadcast address in theassociation mode. The energy controllers could each save the broadcastaddress received from the broadcast controller 180 if an actuator on theenergy controller is actuated while the broadcast controller isrepetitively transmitting the broadcast address in the association mode.

After being associated with the energy controllers of the independentunits 110, 112, the broadcast controller 180 is operable to transmit adigital message including one of a plurality of operating modes to theenergy controllers. The energy controllers of the independent units 110,112 automatically operate according to one of a plurality of controlalgorithms in response to receiving a digital message including one ofthe operating modes from the broadcast controller 180. For example, thebroadcast controller 180 may be coupled to a central controller orprocessor (not shown) via the network 182 for receiving the operatingmodes to transmit to the independent units 110, 112. Alternatively, thebroadcast controller 180 could transmit one of the operating modes tothe energy controllers of the independent units 110, 112 in response todigital messages received from a building or energy management systemcoupled to the network 182, in response to digital messages receivedfrom a remote “cloud” server via the Internet, or in response to thecontact closure signal received via the contact closure input. Theenergy controllers are operable to control the respective loads inresponse to the present operating mode and one or more operatingcharacteristics that are stored in a memory of the energy controller.

In addition, the broadcast controller 180 may be operable to transmitdigital messages including commands for controlling the associated loadsto the energy controllers. For example, the commands may include acommand to turn the load on or off, a command to adjust the amount ofpower delivered to the load, a command to increase or decrease asetpoint temperature of a heating and cooling system, a delay time(i.e., a time from when the command is received to when the load iscontrolled), and a fade time (i.e., the amount of time over which theload is adjusted from an initial value to a target value).

The broadcast controller 180 may also provide centralized timeclockcontrol of the independent units 110, 112. For example, the broadcastcontroller 180 could periodically transmit the present time of the dayto the energy controllers. Each energy controller could be programmedwith a timeclock schedule for controlling the electrical loads inresponse to the present time of the day transmitted by the broadcastcontroller 180. The timeclock schedule may be stored in the memory 3018of the broadcast controller 180. The broadcast controller 180 couldcomprise an astronomical timeclock or could receive the time of dayinformation from the cloud server via the Internet. In addition, ratherthan transmitting the present time of day to the energy controllers, thebroadcast controller 180 could store a timeclock schedule forcontrolling the electrical loads and could transmit alternative commandsto the energy controllers in response to the present time of the day.For example, the broadcast controller 180 could transmit Sweep On orSweep Off commands to the energy controllers per the timeclock scheduleto turn one or more of the electrical loads on and off, respectively, atthe end of the work day. Further, the broadcast controller 180 couldtransmit one of the operating modes to the energy controllers inresponse to the timeclock schedule. In one or more embodiments, thebroadcast controller 180 may include one or more processor (orcontroller) devices, one or more memory, at least one power supply,and/or one or more wireless communication transceivers (that may be incommunication with the two antennas 190, 191). The one or more processordevices may be configured to perform various functions, such as but notlimited to those functions associated with timeclock functions and/ordemand response functions.

The operating modes transmitted by the broadcast controller 180 mayinclude, for example, a normal mode, a standard demand response (DR)mode, an emergency demand response (DR) mode, an afterhours mode, asafety mode, and a pre-condition mode. During the standard demandresponse mode and the emergency demand response mode, the energycontrollers operate to lower the total power consumption of the loadcontrol system 100 (i.e., shed loads). For example, the dimmer switch210 may decrease the present intensity L_(PRES) of the lighting load 122by a predetermined amount when the lighting load is on, turn thelighting load off when the room is unoccupied, and decrease the presentintensity L_(PRES) in response to a daylight sensor if there is anabundance of daylight in the room. In addition, the motorized windowtreatment 320 may lower the shade fabric 322 to cover the window andprovide additional insulation for the building during the standarddemand response mode and the emergency demand response mode, or mayalternatively raise the shade fabric to allow more sunlight to enter theroom.

Further, the temperature control devices 230, 330 may increase thesetpoint temperature T_(SET) of the HVAC system when cooling thebuilding, and decrease the setpoint temperature T_(SET) of the HVACsystem when heating the building during the standard demand responsemode and the emergency demand response mode to reduce the energyconsumption of the HVAC system. In addition, the temperature controldevices 230, 330 may be operable to turn the HVAC system off during thestandard demand response mode and the emergency demand response mode.The operation of the energy controllers during the demand response modesmay be dependent upon the present time of day or the present time ofyear. In addition, the operation of the energy controllers during thedemand response mode may be dependent upon the present operating mode orthe present scene selected in the independent unit. For example, if a“presentation” or “meeting” scene is selected in an independent unit andthe broadcast controller 180 transmits the standard demand responsemode, the energy controllers of the independent unit may not respond tothe standard demand response mode, so as to not disrupt the meeting inprogress.

The broadcast controller 180 may be operable to cause the energycontrollers to enter the standard demand response mode or the emergencydemand response mode in response to various different inputs. Thebroadcast controller 180 may generate an audible sound and/or may blinkone of the visual indicators 196 (i.e., generate a visual indication)when first entering either of the demand response modes. In addition,the energy controllers may generate an audible sound or blink a visualindicator when in either of the demand response modes. Alternatively,the broadcast controller 180 could transmit a digital message via thenetwork 182, such that an email or text is sent or a message isdisplayed on a graphical using interface (GUI) running on the tablet 185or a PC when the broadcast controller 180 first enters either of thedemand response modes. The broadcast controller 180 may be operable totransmit one of the standard demand response mode and the emergencydemand response mode to the energy controllers in response to a manualinput, such as, for example, an actuation of a demand response startbutton 188 of the demand response remote control 186, or the selectionof a start option on a web page displayed on the tablet 185 or othercomputing device coupled to the network communication link 184 (e.g., apersonal computer or a smart phone). In addition, the broadcastcontroller 180 may be operable to transmit one of the demand responsemodes in response to a timeclock event that is created using thecomputing device.

Further, the broadcast controller 180 may be operable to automaticallycause the energy controllers to enter one of the demand response modes.For example, the load control system 100 may further comprise a contactclosure interface unit (not shown) for receiving a wireless signal(e.g., a cellular signal) from the electrical utility 183 or anaggregator. The contact closure interface unit may direct to thebroadcast controller 180 to transmit one of the demand response modesvia the contact closure input signal received by the contact closureinput circuit 5024. Alternatively, the central controller of the loadcontrol system 100 could receive a communication from the electricalutility 183 or the aggregator via the network 182 and couldautomatically transmit one or more digital messages to the broadcastcontroller 180 for causing the broadcast controller to transmit one ofthe demand response modes to the energy controllers. In addition, thecentral controller could periodically download a demand response stateor command from the electrical utility or aggregator via the network182, and could cause the broadcast controller 180 to transmit one of thedemand response modes to the energy controllers in response to thedownloaded state or command.

The broadcast controller 180 may be operable to cause the energycontrollers to exit the standard demand response mode or the emergencydemand response mode, for example, by transmitting the normal mode tothe energy controllers. The broadcast controller 180 may be operable tocause the energy controllers to exit the demand response modes inresponse to a manual input, such as, for example, an actuation of ademand response stop button 189 of the demand response remote control186, in response to the selection of a stop option on a web pagedisplayed on a computing device coupled to the network communicationlink 184, or in response to a timeclock event created by the computingdevice. In addition, the broadcast controller 180 may be operable toautomatically cause the energy controllers to exit the demand responsemodes in response to the removal of the signal at the contact closureinput, in response to a communication received from the electricalutility 183 or the aggregator via the network 182, or in response to adownloaded demand response state or command. Further, the energycontrollers may be operable to time out from the demand response modeafter a predetermined amount of time.

The broadcast controller 180 is operable to “pre-condition” the buildingin which the load control system 100 is installed before operating theenergy controllers in the standard demand response mode (in which theHVAC system will consume less power). The broadcast controller 180 maytransmit a digital message including the pre-condition mode prior tocausing the energy controllers to operate in the standard demandresponse mode. In the pre-condition mode, the temperature controldevices 230, 330 are operable to pre-cool the building when the HVACsystem is cooling the building, and to pre-heat the building when theHVAC system is heating the building.

The operating characteristics and functionality of the operating modesof the energy controllers may be programmed out-of-box, such that theenergy controllers are each responsive to the operating modestransmitted by the broadcast controller 180 as soon as the energycontroller is associated with the broadcast controller. In addition, theoperating characteristics and functionality of the operating modes ofthe energy controllers could alternatively be configured by a customeronline (for example, using a web browser on a personal computer), andthen programming into memory of the broadcast controller 180 during themanufacturing process of the broadcast controller, such that the loadcontrol system 100 is operational as soon as the energy controllers areinstalled and associated with the broadcast controller. Further, thecontrol algorithms of each of the energy controllers may be programmed,for example, using a handheld programmer to transmit digital messages tothe energy controller. However, not all of the energy controllers may beresponsive to all of the operating modes transmitted by the broadcastcontroller 180. Therefore, if the energy controller receives a digitalmessage including an operating mode that is not configured in thatenergy controller, the energy controller defaults to the Normal mode.For example, the dimmer switch 210 may not be responsive to digitalmessages including the Pre-condition mode.

For example, the dimmer switch 210 may operate in the normal mode, thestandard demand response mode, the emergency demand response mode, theafterhours mode, and the safety mode. When the dimmer switch 210receives a digital message including one of the operating modes from thebroadcast controller 180, the dimmer switch executes an operating modeadjustment procedure 400 to begin operating according to the appropriatecontrol algorithm. When a digital message is received from one of thecommanders of the independent unit of the dimmer switch 210, the dimmerswitch executes a control procedure 500 in dependence upon the presentoperating mode as received from the broadcast controller 180. The dimmerswitch 210 determines the present intensity L_(PRES) of the lightingload 212 during the control procedure 500 using a normal intensityL_(NORM), a demand response setback Δ_(DR), and a daylighting setbackΔ_(DL), e.g.,

L _(PRES)=(1−Δ_(DR))·(1−Δ_(DL))·L _(NORM).

The dimmer switch 210 controls the present intensity L_(PRES) of thelighting load 212 to the normal intensity L_(NORM) when operating in thenormal mode, and may adjust the normal intensity L_(NORM) in response toactuations of the buttons 252-258 of the remote control 250. The demandresponse setback Δ_(DR) represents a percentage by which the presentintensity L_(PRES) of the lighting load 212 is scaled back from thenormal intensity L_(NORM) when the dimmer switch 210 is operating in thedemand response mode. The daylighting setback Δ_(DL) represents apercentage by which the present intensity L_(PRES) of the lighting load212 is scaled back from the normal intensity L_(NORM) when daylightingis enabled for the dimmer switch 210.

FIG. 8A is a simplified flowchart of the operating mode adjustmentprocedure 400 executed by the dimmer switch 210 when the dimmer switchreceives a digital message including one of the operating modes at step410. If the operating mode that was received at step 410 is configuredfor the dimmer switch 210 at step 412 (i.e., the dimmer switch isresponsive to the mode) and the received operating mode is the normalmode at step 414, the dimmer switch 210 sets the demand response setbackΔ_(DR) to 0% at step 415. The dimmer switch 210 then disables all sensoroperation at step 416 (i.e., the dimmer switch 210 will not respond tooccupancy sensors or daylight sensors during normal operation) and setsthe daylighting setback Δ_(DL) to 0% at step 418, before the operatingmode adjustment procedure 400 exits.

If the received operating mode is the standard demand response mode atstep 420, the dimmer switch 210 sets the demand response setback Δ_(DR)to a first predetermined setback amount Δ_(DR1), for example,approximately 20%, at step 422. The dimmer switch 210 then enablesvacancy sensor operation at step 424 (i.e., the dimmer switch willrespond to vacant messages, but not occupied messages transmitted by theoccupancy sensors assigned to the dimmer switch) and enables daylightingoperation at step 426 (i.e., the dimmer switch will adjust the presetintensity L_(PRES) in response to the total lighting intensity measuredby the daylight sensors assigned to the dimmer switch). Finally, thedimmer switch 210 sets a demand response (DR) timeout period at step 428and the operating mode adjustment procedure 400 exits. If the receivedoperating mode is the emergency demand response mode at step 430, thedimmer switch 210 sets the demand response setback Δ_(DR) to a secondpredetermined setback amount Δ_(DR2) (e.g., approximately 90%) at step432, enables vacancy sensor operation at step 424, enables daylightingoperation at step 426, and sets the demand response timeout period atstep 428, before the operating mode adjustment procedure 400 exits. Atthe end of the demand response timeout period, the dimmer switch 210will automatically exit the demand response modes, for example, bychanging to the normal mode (i.e., setting the demand response setbackΔ_(DR) to 0%, disabling all sensor operation, and setting thedaylighting setback Δ_(DL) to 0%).

If the received operating mode is the afterhours mode at step 434, thedimmer switch 210 enables occupancy sensor operation at step 436 (i.e.,the dimmer switch will respond to both occupied and vacant messagestransmitted by the occupancy sensors assigned to the dimmer switch). Thedimmer switch 210 then disables daylighting operation at step 438 (i.e.,the dimmer switch 210 will not adjust the preset intensity L_(PRES) inresponse to the daylight sensors assigned to the dimmer switch) and setsthe daylighting setback Δ_(DL) to 0% at step 418, before the operatingmode adjustment procedure 400 exits. If the received operating mode isthe safety mode at step 440, the dimmer switch 210 sets the presetintensity L_(PRES) of the lighting load equal to the maximum intensityL_(MAX) (i.e., 100%) at step 442, such that the preset intensityL_(PRES) is not dependent on the values of the normal intensityL_(NORM), the demand response setback Δ_(DR), and the daylightingsetback Δ_(DL). The dimmer switch 210 then disables all sensor operationat step 444 and sets the daylighting setback Δ_(DL) to 0% at step 418,before the operating mode adjustment procedure 400 exits. If theoperating mode that was received at step 410 is not configured for thedimmer switch 210 at step 412, the dimmer switch simply operates in thenormal mode by setting the lighting setback Δ_(DR) to 0% at step 415,disabling all sensor operation at step 415, and setting the daylightingsetback Δ_(DL) to 0% at step 418.

FIG. 8B is a simplified flowchart of the control procedure 500 executedby the dimmer switch 210 when the dimmer switch receives a digitalmessage from one of the commanders (e.g., the remote control 250, theoccupancy sensor 260, or a daylight sensor) at step 510. If the dimmerswitch 210 is operating in the emergency mode at step 512, the dimmerswitch does not respond to the received digital message and the controlprocedure 500 simply exits. If the received digital message is from theremote control 250 at step 514 and indicates that the on button 252 ofthe remote control was actuated at step 516, the dimmer switch 210 setsthe normal intensity L_(NORM) to the maximum intensity L_(MAX) (i.e.,100%) at step 518. If the received digital message indicates that theoff button 254 of the remote control 250 was actuated at step 520, thedimmer switch 210 sets the normal intensity L_(NORM) to 0% (i.e., off)at step 522. If the received digital message indicates that the raisebutton 255 was actuated at step 524 or that the lower button 256 wasactuated at step 528, the dimmer switch 210 respectively increases thenormal intensity L_(NORM) by a predetermined amount (e.g., approximately1%) at step 526 and decreases the normal intensity L_(NORM) by apredetermined amount (e.g., approximately 1%) at step 530. If thereceived digital message indicates that the preset button 258 wasactuated at step 532, the dimmer switch 210 sets the normal intensityL_(NORM) to the preset intensity L_(PRE) at step 534.

If the received digital message is not from the remote control 250 atstep 514, the dimmer switch 210 determines if the received digitalmessage is from the occupancy sensor 260. Specifically, if the receiveddigital message is a vacant message from the occupancy sensor 260 atstep 536 and vacancy sensor or occupancy sensor operation is enabled atstep 538 (i.e., as enabled at steps 424 or 432 of the operating modeadjustment procedure 400), the dimmer switch 210 sets the normalintensity L_(NORM) to 0% (i.e., off) at step 540. If vacancy sensor oroccupancy sensor operation is not enabled at step 538, the dimmer switch210 does not adjust the normal intensity L_(NORM). If the receiveddigital message is an occupied message from the occupancy sensor 260 atstep 542 and occupancy sensor operation is enabled at step 544, thedimmer switch 210 sets the normal intensity L_(NORM) to the maximumintensity L_(MAX) (i.e., 100%) at step 546.

If the received digital message is a daylighting message from a daylightsensor at step 548 and daylighting operation is enabled at step 550, thedimmer switch 210 sets the daylighting setback Δ_(DL) in response to themeasured total lighting intensity L_(TOT) included in the receiveddigital message at step 552. For example, the dimmer switch 210 mayincrease the value of the daylighting setback Δ_(DL) if the totallighting intensity L_(TOT) is above a predetermined threshold. Finally,after adjusting the normal intensity L_(NORM) at steps 518, 522, 526,530, 534, 540, 546 or adjusting the daylighting setback Δ_(DL) at step552, the dimmer switch 210 calculates a new value of the presentintensity L_(PRES) of the lighting load 212 using the normal intensityL_(NORM), the demand response setback Δ_(DR), and the daylightingsetback Δ_(DL) at step 554, before the control procedure 500 exits.

Similarly, the temperature control device 230 of the first independentunit 110 executes an operating mode adjustment procedure 600 to operatewith the appropriate control algorithm in response to receiving adigital message including one of the operating modes from the broadcastcontroller 180. The temperature control device 230 controls the setpointtemperature T_(SET) of the HVAC system to a normal temperature T_(NORM)when operating in the normal mode, and may adjust the normal temperatureT_(NORM) in response to actuations of the actuators of the userinterface 232. The temperature control device 230 adjusts the setpointtemperature T_(SET) using an offset temperature T_(OS) to reduce thetotal power consumption of the HVAC system when operating in thestandard demand response mode, the emergency demand response mode, orthe afterhours mode. In addition, the temperature control device 230adjusts the setpoint temperature T_(SET) using the offset temperatureT_(OS) to pre-cool or pre-heat the building when operating in thepre-condition mode.

FIG. 8C is a simplified flowchart of the operating mode adjustmentprocedure 600 executed by the temperature control device 230 when thetemperature control device receives a digital message including one ofthe operating modes at step 610. If the operating mode that was receivedat step 610 is configured for the temperature control device 230 at step612 and the received operating mode is the normal mode at step 614, thetemperature control device sets the offset temperature T_(OS) to 0° C.at step 616. The temperature control device 230 then determines thesetpoint temperature T_(SET) for the HVAC system at step 630 by addingthe offset temperature T_(OS) to the normal temperature T_(NORM) (i.e.,the setpoint temperature T_(SET) equals the normal temperatureT_(NORM)), before the operating mode adjustment procedure 600 exits.

If the received operating mode is either of the demand response modes atstep 620 and the HVAC system is presently cooling the building at step622, the temperature control device 230 sets the offset temperatureT_(OS) to a cooling demand response setback temperature T_(DR-COOL)(e.g., approximately 3° C.) at step 624. If the HVAC system is presentlyheating the building at step 622, the temperature control device 230sets the offset temperature T_(OS) to a heating demand response setbacktemperature T_(DR-HEAT) (e.g., approximately −3° C.) at step 626. Thetemperature control device 230 sets a demand response (DR) timeoutperiod at step 628. Finally, the temperature control device 230 adds theoffset temperature T_(OS) to the normal temperature T_(NORM) todetermine the setpoint temperature T_(SET) for the HVAC system at step630 before the operating mode adjustment procedure 600 exits.Accordingly, when operating in either of the demand response modes, thetemperature control device 230 increases the setpoint temperatureT_(SET) when cooling the building (since the offset temperature T_(OS)is positive) and decreases the setpoint temperature T_(SET) when heatingthe building (since the offset temperature T_(OS) is negative). At theend of the demand response timeout period, the temperature controldevice 230 will exit the demand response modes, for example, by changingto the normal mode (i.e., setting the offset temperature T_(OS) to 0°C.).

If the received operating mode is the afterhours mode at step 632 andthe HVAC system is presently cooling the building at step 634, thetemperature control device 230 sets the offset temperature T_(OS) to acooling afterhours setback temperature T_(AH-COOL) (e.g., approximately3° C.) at step 636. If the HVAC system is presently heating the buildingat step 634, the temperature control device 230 sets the offsettemperature T_(OS) to a heating afterhours setback temperatureT_(AH-HEAT) (e.g., approximately −3° C.) at step 638. The temperaturecontrol device 230 then determines the setpoint temperature T_(SET) forthe HVAC system at step 630 by adding the offset temperature T_(OS) tothe normal temperature T_(NORM) and the operating mode adjustmentprocedure 600 exits. Accordingly, when operating in the afterhours mode,the temperature control device 230 increases the setpoint temperatureT_(SET) when cooling the building and decreases the setpoint temperatureT_(SET) when heating the building.

If the received operating mode is the pre-condition mode at step 640 andthe HVAC system is presently cooling the building at step 642, thetemperature control device 230, the temperature control device 230 setsthe offset temperature T_(OS) to a cooling pre-cool temperatureT_(PR-COOL) (e.g., approximately −4° C.) at step 644. If the HVAC systemis presently heating the building at step 642, the temperature controldevice 230 sets the offset temperature T_(OS) to a pre-heat temperatureT_(PR-HEAT) (e.g., approximately 4° C.) at step 646. Accordingly, whenoperating in the pre-condition mode, the temperature control device 230decreases the setpoint temperature T_(SET) when cooling the building andincreases the setpoint temperature T_(SET) when heating the building. Ifthe operating mode that was received at step 610 is not configured forthe temperature control device 230 at step 612, the temperature controldevice simply operates in the normal mode by setting the offsettemperature T_(OS) to 0° C. at step 616.

While the operating mode adjustment procedures 400, 600 of FIGS. 8A and8C were described as executed by the dimmer switch 210 and thetemperature control device 230, the other energy controllers of thefirst and second independent units 110, 112 would also execute similaroperating mode adjustment procedures with changes depending upon thespecific loads that the energy controllers are controlling. In addition,as described above, the operating modes of the energy controllers aremutually exclusive, i.e., the energy controllers each only operate inone of the operating modes at a single time. Alternatively, the energycontrollers could operate in more than one operating mode at once.

The energy controllers may each be operable to adjust the operatingcharacteristics stored in memory (e.g., the first and secondpredetermined setback amounts Δ_(DR1), Δ_(DR2) of the dimmer switch 210and the cooling and heating demand response setback temperaturesT_(DR-COOL), T_(DR-HEAT) of the temperature control device 130) inresponse to digital messages received from the broadcast controller 180.The operating characteristics can be transmitted to the energycontrollers and stored in memory in the energy controllers, such thatthe energy controllers are operable to control the controlled loads inresponse to receiving an operating mode from the broadcast controller180. Alternatively, the broadcast controller 180 could transmit adigital message including both the operating mode and the operatingcharacteristics to the energy controllers.

The energy controllers may alternatively operate according to differentalgorithms in the standard demand response mode and the emergency demandresponse mode. FIG. 9 is a simplified floor plan 700 having threeoffices 710, 720, 730 (e.g., independent units) that is used toillustrate how the load control system 100 may operate in the standarddemand response mode and the emergency demand response mode according toa second embodiment of the present invention. The first office 710includes a window 711 and two fluorescent lighting fixtures 712, 713having respective ballasts 714, 715 for controlling fluorescent lamps inthe lighting fixtures. The ballasts 714, 715 are electrically coupled toan electronic switch 716, which is able to simply turn the fluorescentlamps of the lighting fixtures 712, 713 on and off. The first office 710also includes an occupancy sensor 718, which is associated with theelectronic switch 716, such that the electronic switch is responsive tothe RF signals transmitted by the occupancy sensor.

During normal operation, a user is able to manually turn the fluorescentlamps of the lighting fixtures 712, 713 on and off by actuating thetoggle actuator of the electronic switch 716. In addition, theelectronic switch 716 turns the fluorescent lamps of the lightingfixtures 712, 713 on in response to receiving an occupied command fromthe occupancy sensor 718 and off in response to receiving a vacantcommand from the occupancy sensor 718. In other words, in one or moreembodiments, during normal mode, the energy controller (electronicswitch 716) accepts (or prioritizes) the command signal of the occupancysensor 718 as the commander of the energy controller (electronic switch716). This may occur because the broadcast controller 780 has—bysignaling normal mode—effectively released the electronic switch 716(the energy controller) from the obligation to accept (or prioritize)the signal of the broadcast controller 780 over the commander of theelectronic switch 716—the occupancy sensor 718.

In some embodiments, when the broadcast controller 780 issues a normalmode signal to the energy controllers registered with the broadcastcontroller 780, that may be understood generally to be the release ofthe respective energy controllers from the configured obligation toaccept (or prioritize) the commands of the broadcast controller over thecommands of the respective energy controllers' commanders. The energycontrollers may operate according to the commands of their respectivecommanders until such time as the broadcast controller 780 issues a new(e.g., fresh or updated) command message (e.g., standard demand responsemode) for the energy controllers to once again accept (or prioritize)the commands of the broadcast controller 780 over the commands of theenergy controllers' commanders.

The second office 720 also includes a window 721 and two lightingfixtures 722, 723 (e.g., fluorescent lighting fixtures) havingrespective ballasts 724, 725. The ballasts 724, 725 are electricallycoupled to respective electronic switches 726, 727, such that thelighting fixtures 722, 723 may be independently turned on and off. Theelectronic switches 726, 727 are each associated with and responsive toan occupancy sensor 728. During normal operation, the electronicswitches 726, 727 independently turn the respective lighting fixtures722, 723 on and off in response to manual actuations of the toggleactuators and in response to the RF signals transmitted by the occupancysensor 728. The third office 730 has two lighting fixtures 732, 733(e.g., fluorescent lighting fixtures) with respective ballasts 734, 735and two dimmer switches 736, 737 for controlling the intensities of thefluorescent lamps of the respective lighting fixtures 732, 733. Thedimmer switches 736, 737 are each associated with and responsive to anoccupancy sensor 738. During normal operation, a user is able to turnthe lighting fixtures 732, 733 on and off and adjust the intensity ofthe fluorescent lamps between the minimum intensity L_(MIN) and themaximum intensity L_(MAX) by actuating the actuators of the respectivedimmer switches 736, 737. The dimmer switches 736, 737 are operable toturn the fluorescent lamps of the respective lighting fixtures 732, 733on to a first reduced intensity (e.g., approximately 80%) in response toreceiving an occupied command from the occupancy sensor 738 and off inresponse to receiving a vacant command from the occupancy sensor.

The electronic switches 716, 726, 727 and the dimmer switches 736, 737are all responsive to a broadcast controller 780. The broadcastcontroller 780 is operable to transmit the standard demand response modeand the emergency response mode to the electronic switches 716, 726, 727and the dimmer switches 736, 737 in response to receiving an input fromthe various sources as described above in the first embodiment. Thefunctionality of each of the electronic switches 716, 726, 727 and thedimmer switches 736, 737 is programmed during the configurationprocedure of the broadcast controller 780 as will be described ingreater detail below. In addition, the algorithms defining the operationof the electronic switches 716, 726, 727 and the dimmer switches 736,737 in the standard demand response mode and in the emergency demandresponse mode are stored in each of the devices. Therefore, when thebroadcast controller 780 transmits the standard demand response mode orthe emergency demand response mode to the electronic switches 716, 726,727 and the dimmer switches 736, 737, the devices understand how tooperate.

For example, during the standard demand response mode, the electronicswitch 726 may turn off the lighting fixture 722 in response toreceiving a vacant command from the occupancy sensor 728, but does notturn on the lighting fixture in response to receiving an occupiedcommand from the occupancy sensor. When the electronic switch 726 firstreceives the standard demand response mode from the broadcast controller780, the electronic switch turns off the lighting fixture 722 closest tothe window 721. A user of the second office 720 may open a windowtreatment covering the window 721 to allow more daylight to enter theoffice if needed. While in the standard demand response mode, theelectronic switch 726 may turn on the lighting fixture 722 in responseto a manual actuation of the toggle actuator. The operation of theelectronic switch 716 in the first office 710 and the electronic switch727 in the second office 720 is unaffected in the standard demandresponse mode (i.e., the same as during normal operation).

During the standard demand response mode, the dimmer switches 736, 737of the third office 730 limit the maximum intensities of the lightingfixtures 732, 733 to a second reduced intensity (i.e., approximately80%) in response to manual actuations of the actuators of the dimmerswitches. When the dimmer switches 736, 737 first receive the standarddemand response mode from the broadcast controller 780, the dimmerswitches slowly dim the intensities of the lighting fixtures 732, 733 bya predetermined load shed percentage, e.g., approximately 20%. Forexample, if the intensity of each of the lighting fixtures 732, 733 is80% during normal operation, the dimmer switches 736, 737 reduce theintensities of the lighting fixtures to approximately 64% over astandard demand response fade time, e.g., approximately one minute, suchthat the user will not notice the slow reduction in the intensities ofthe lighting fixtures. While in the standard demand response mode, thedimmer switches 736, 737 turn the respective lighting fixtures 732, 733on to a third reduced intensity (e.g., approximately 64%) in response toreceiving an occupied command from the occupancy sensor 738 and off inresponse to receiving a vacant command from the occupancy sensor.Alternatively, the intensities of the lighting fixtures 732, 733 may bemanually overridden during the standard demand response mode, such thata user is able to control the intensities of the lighting fixtures toapproximately full intensity (e.g., approximately 100%) in response toactuations of the toggle actuators 214 and the intensity adjustmentactuators 216 of the dimmer switches 736, 737.

The electronic switches 716, 726, 727 and the dimmer switch 736, 737 areoperable to exit the standard demand response mode in response toreceiving the normal mode from the broadcast controller 780. If theoffices 710, 720, 730 are unoccupied when the electronic switches 716,726, 727 and the dimmer switch 736, 737 receive the normal mode, thelighting fixtures 712, 713, 722, 723, 732, 733 remain off. If the secondoffice 720 is occupied when the electronic switch 726 controlling thelighting fixture 722 closest to the window 721 receives the normal mode,the electronic switch turns the lighting fixture 722 on. If the thirdoffice 730 is occupied when the dimmer switches 736, 737 receive thenormal mode, the dimmer switches slowly increase the intensities of thelighting fixtures 732, 733 by the predetermined load shed percentageover the predetermined amount of time. Alternatively, the electronicswitches 716, 726, 727 and the dimmer switch 736, 737 could not adjustthe present state of the lighting fixtures 712, 713, 722, 723, 732, 733when exiting the standard demand response mode.

When the electronic switches 716, 726, 727 receive the emergency demandresponse mode from the broadcast controller 780, the electronic switchesturn off the respective lighting fixtures 712, 713, 722, 723 since thefirst and second offices have the windows 711, 721 for allowing daylightto enter the offices. During the emergency demand response mode, theelectronic switches 716, 726, 727 do not turn the lighting fixtures 712,713, 722, 723 back on in response manual actuations of the buttons ofthe electronic switches or in response to digital messages received fromthe occupancy sensors 718, 728. When the dimmer switches 736, 737receive the emergency demand response mode from the broadcast controller780, the dimmer switches immediately control the intensities to apredetermined minimum load shed intensity (e.g., approximately 10%).During the emergency demand response mode, intensities of the lightingfixtures 732, 733 are not able to be raised above the predeterminedminimum load shed intensity. The dimmer switches 736, 737 are able toturn the lighting fixtures 732, 733 on to the predetermined minimum loadshed intensity in response to receiving an occupied command from theoccupancy sensor 738, and to turn the lighting fixtures off in responseto receiving a vacant command from the occupancy sensors. Alternatively,the dimmer switches 736, 737 may be locked out during the emergencydemand response mode, such that the intensities of the lighting fixtures732, 733 cannot be adjusted by actuating of the toggle actuators 214 andthe intensity adjustment actuators 216 of the dimmer switches.

If the offices 710, 720, 730 are unoccupied when the electronic switches716, 726, 727 and the dimmer switch 736, 737 receive the normal modefrom the broadcast controller 780, the lighting fixtures 712, 713, 722,723, 732, 733 remain off. In response to receiving the normal mode fromthe broadcast controller 780 when the offices 710, 720, 730 areoccupied, the electronic switches 716, 726, 727 turn the respectivelighting fixtures 712, 713, 722, 723 on and the dimmer switches 736, 737immediately control the intensities of the lighting fixtures 732, 733 tothe intensities to which the lighting fixtures were controlled beforeentering the emergency demand response mode.

Each energy controller may be associated with the broadcast controller180 by actuating a button on the energy controller until the energycontroller enters an association mode, and then actuating one of thebuttons 194 on the broadcast controller. The specific button 194 that isactuated on the broadcast controller 180 determines the resultingfunctionality of the energy controller, e.g., if the energy controlleris or is not responsive to the standard demand response mode and theemergency demand response mode. For example, the buttons 194 of thebroadcast controller 180 may comprise a standard demand response buttonand an emergency demand response button. The algorithms defining theoperation of the electronic switches 716, 726, 727 and the dimmerswitches 736, 737 in the standard demand response mode and in theemergency demand response mode are stored in each of the devices.

As discussed above, the operation of the electronic switch 716 in thefirst office 710 is not affected during the standard demand responsemode, but is adjusted during the emergency demand response mode.Therefore, to associate the electronic switch 716 with the broadcastcontroller 180, the user removes the broadcast controller from the base192 and walks to the electronic switch 716 in the first office 710. Theuser presses and holds the toggle actuator of the electronic switch 716until a visual indicator on the electronic switch begins to blink, andthen presses and holds the emergency demand response button on thebroadcast controller 180 until the broadcast controller flashes one ofthe visual indicators 196 and generates an audible sound. Accordingly,the electronic switch 716 is now associated with the broadcastcontroller 180 and will only respond to the emergency demand responsemode. Similarly, the electronic switch 726 of the second office 720 doesnot response to the standard demand response mode, but responds to theemergency demand response mode, and is thus programmed in a similarfashioned as the electronic switch 716 of the first office 710.

However, the operation of the other electronic switch 727 of the secondoffice 720 is adjusted during both the standard demand response mode andthe emergency demand response mode. To associate the electronic switch772 with the broadcast controller 180, the user presses and holds thetoggle actuator of the electronic switch 727, and then presses and holdsthe standard demand response button on the broadcast controller 180until the association is completed. The user then repeats the processfor the emergency demand response button, i.e., by pressing and holdingthe toggle actuator of the electronic switch 727, and then pressing andholding the emergency demand response button on the broadcast controller180. The dimmer switches 736, 737 are also responsive to both demandresponse modes, and are therefore each programmed in a similar manner asthe electronic switch 727.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention, the broadcastcontroller 180 may be operable to transmit more than just two differentdemand response modes to the energy controllers of the independent units110, 112. For example, the broadcast controller 180 could be operable totransmit one of a plurality of tiered demand response modes (such as“condition yellow,” “condition orange,” and “condition red” demandresponse modes) to the energy controllers. The tiered demand responsemodes may provide increasing amounts of load reduction with thecondition yellow demand response mode providing a minimum level of loadshedding and the condition red demand response mode providing a maximum(i.e., most extreme) level of load shedding. The broadcast controller180 may be operable to automatically cause the energy controllers toenter one of the tiered demand response modes in response tocommunications received from the electrical utility 183 or theaggregator. For example, the broadcast controller 180 may receive one ofthe condition yellow, orange, and red demand response modes directlyfrom the communications received from the electrical utility 183 or theaggregator.

In addition, the broadcast controller 180 may be operable toautomatically cause the energy controllers to enter one of the tiereddemand response modes in response to time-of-day pricing informationreceived from the electrical utility 183 or the aggregator. For example,the broadcast controller 180 may be operable to enter one of the tiereddemand response modes (e.g., the condition yellow demand response mode)if the electricity price exceeds a pricing threshold (which may be setby the user). Alternatively, the broadcast controller 180 may beoperable to enter the condition yellow demand response mode during thetimes of the day when the time-of-day pricing is typically the highest,for example, in response to a timeclock event programmed by the user.

Further, the broadcast controller 180 may be operable to automaticallycause the energy controllers to enter one of the tiered demand responsemodes using a peak demand charge management procedure. For example, thebroadcast controller 180 may be operable to enter one of the tiereddemand response modes (e.g., the condition yellow demand response mode)if the total power consumption (as measured by one or more power meters)exceeds a peak power threshold (which may be set by the user).Alternatively, the broadcast controller 180 may be operable to enter thecondition yellow demand response mode during the times of the day whenthe total power consumption is typically the highest, for example, inresponse to a timeclock event programmed by the user.

According to the third embodiment of the present invention, the energycontrollers of the independent units 110, 112 may be assigned todifferent groups (e.g., hallways, offices, outside lights, always on,etc.), which represent the different types of areas in a building thatmay be controlled in different fashions in the tiered demand responsemodes. The energy controllers may be assigned to a group when the energycontrollers are assigned to the broadcast controller 180 as part of theconfiguration procedure of the load control system 100 (as describedabove). During the configuration procedure, the broadcast controller 180may transmit an appropriate group address to the energy controller beingassigned to the broadcast controller and the energy controller storesthe group address in memory. After the configuration procedure, thebroadcast controller 180 transmits digital messages to the differentgroups using the respective group addresses, and the energy controllersrespond to digital messages including their group address. In addition,the load control system 100 could comprise additional broadcastcontrollers 180 coupled to the network 182 to allow the system to haveadditional demand response groups. The use of groups allows thebroadcast controller 180 to be easily associated with the energycontrollers, thus providing a short commissioning time to add the globalfunctionality that is provided by the broadcast controller.

The operating characteristics of the various demand response modes maybe monitored and configured using the tablet 185. FIGS. 10A-10C showexample screenshots 800, 802, 804 of a management view screen that maybe served up by the broadcast controller 180 and displayed on the tablet185 to allow a user to monitor the actions that will take place when thecondition yellow, orange, and red demand response modes, respectively,are selected. Specifically, one of the yellow, orange, and red demandresponse modes may be selected by clicking on the appropriate tab 810.Each screenshot 800, 802, 804 displays a table having a left column 812of types of energy controllers and a top row 814 of the different groupsto which the energy controllers may be assigned. Each entry in the tableshows how the different types of energy controllers in each of thegroups respond during one of the condition yellow, orange, and reddemand response modes. For example, the dimmer switches in the hallwayswill dim the controlled lighting loads by a demand response setback of30% over a fade time of one minute when the condition yellow demandresponse mode is selected as shown in FIG. 10A. In addition, themanagement view screen includes tabs 810 to display how the differenttypes of energy controllers in each of the groups respond to time-of-daypricing information or using peak demand charge management.

In addition, the tablet 185 may display configuration screens (notshown) to allow the user to configure and adjust the values of theoperating characteristics of the condition yellow, orange, and reddemand response modes. For example, the user may adjust the demandresponse setback and the fade time according to which the dimmerswitches in the hallways will dim the controlled lighting loads in thecondition yellow demand response mode. In addition, the user may be ableto select which of the condition yellow, orange, or red demand responsemodes are selected when the electricity price from the time-of-daypricing information exceeds the pricing threshold or when the totalpower consumption exceeds the peak power threshold in the peak demandcharge management procedure. After configuring the operatingcharacteristics, the tablet 185 transmits the new operatingcharacteristics to the broadcast controller 180, which in turn transmitsdigital messages including the new operating characteristics to theenergy controllers of the independent units 110, 112. The energycontrollers all have their device type and their group address stored inmemory, such that only the appropriate energy controllers update theiroperating characteristics.

The management view screen includes also a tuning tab 816. FIG. 10Dshows an example screenshot 806 of a tuning screen that may be displayedon the tablet 185 in response to the selection of the tuning tab 816.The tuning screen displays the maximum intensity L_(MAX) of the dimmerswitches and the plug-in load control devices for the different groups,e.g., 70% for the dimmer switches in the hallways. In addition, thetablet 185 may also display a tuning configuration screen (not shown)for adjusting the maximum intensity L_(MAX) of the dimmer switches andthe plug-in load control devices. The dimmer switches and plug-in loadcontrol devices will limit the present light intensity of the controlledlighting loads to the maximum intensity L_(MAX) in response toactuations of the toggle actuator 214 and the intensity adjustmentactuator 216. The tuning configuration screen may allow for adjustmentof other operating characteristics and settings of the energycontrollers other than just the maximum intensity L_(MAX) of the dimmerswitches and the plug-in load control devices, such as, for example,minimum intensities, preset intensities, setpoint temperatures, delaytimes, fade times, timeout periods, sensitivity settings for sensors,and daylighting thresholds. Tuning allows for easy adjustment of theoperational characteristics and settings of the energy controllers toimprove occupant comfort and satisfaction after the initialcommissioning of the system. For example, the operationalcharacteristics and settings of the energy controllers may be tunedyearly to reduce the energy consumption of the load control system 800.Alternatively, the operational characteristics and settings of theenergy controllers may be tuned if the building has a new tenant or ifthe electrical utility 183 changes the demand response program.

The timeclock events of the broadcast controller 180 may be monitoredand configured using the tablet 185 or other computing device.Alternatively, the management view screen of FIGS. 10A-10C and thetuning screen of FIG. 11 could be displayed on a smart phone, a personalcomputer, or other suitable computing device.

The broadcast controller 180 may be configured to obtain information(e.g., registration information, status information, operationalinformation, configuration information, and/or relationship information,and the like) regarding the control devices of the independent units110, 112 (such as the energy controller devices or commander devices).The broadcast controller 180 may communicate with any of the controldevices that may be operable for two-way communication to determine alisting of what other control devices may be in operation in therespective first independent unit 110 and/or the second independent unit112. For example, broadcast controller 180 may communicate with a firstcontrol device of independent unit 110 that may be operable for two-waycommunication to obtain a listing of other control devices ofindependent unit 110 of which the first control device may be aware.Also by way of example, broadcast controller 180 may communicate with afirst control device of independent unit 112 that may be operable fortwo-way communication to obtain a listing of other constituent devicesof independent unit 112 of which the first control device may be aware.

In one or more embodiments, broadcast controller 180 may obtainrelationship information regarding the control devices of the firstindependent unit 110 and/or the second independent unit 112. Forexample, a first control device of the first independent unit 110 may beconfigured to monitor and respond to second control device of the firstindependent unit 110. The second constituent device may be configured tocontrol a third control device of the first independent unit 110 inresponse to how the second constituent device interprets the signalsreceived from the first constituent device. Broadcast controller 180 mayobtain the interrelationship information regarding the first, second,and third constituent devices of the first independent network 110 byinterrogating one or more control devices (that may include the first,second, or third constituent devices) of independent unit 110 that maybe operable for two-way communication. Broadcast controller 180 mayobtain such interrelationship information from the one or more controldevices of independent unit 110 even though those one or more controldevices may themselves not be aware of the particular interrelationshipsof the first, second, and third constituent devices.

In some embodiments, one or more of the control devices of the firstindependent unit 110 and/or the second independent unit 112 may betransmit-only devices. With regards to what may be transmit-only controldevices (or nodes) of the first independent unit 110 and/or the secondindependent unit 112, the broadcast controller 180 may learn what otherdevices (or nodes) of the respective independent units 110, 112 may beconfigured to listen to and/or to monitor particular transmit-onlydevices, and like interrelationships of transmit-only control devices.

According to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, thebroadcast controller 180 may be operable to be associated with all ofthe control devices (i.e., the commanders and the energy controllers) ofone of the independent units 110, 112 in response to an actuation of abutton on only one of the control devices of the respective independentunit. For example, when the broadcast controller 180 is in theassociation mode, the broadcast controller 180 may be operable toexecute an independent unit association procedure in response to theactuation of the toggle actuator 214 of the dimmer switch 210, the onbutton 252 of the remote control 250, or any other button of any of thecontrol devices of the first independent unit 110. During theindependent unit association procedure (i.e., in response to the pressof one button of one control device in the independent unit), thebroadcast controller 180 is operable to discover all of the commanders(i.e., the remote controller 250, the occupancy sensor 260, and thetemperature sensor 270) and all of the energy controllers (the dimmerswitch 210, the plug-in load control device 220, the temperature controldevice 230, and the CCO pack 240), and to associate all of thediscovered energy controllers with itself. Accordingly, all of theenergy controllers of an independent unit are operable to be associatedwith the broadcast controller 180 in response to a single press of abutton on any of the commanders and energy controllers of thatindependent unit.

FIGS. 11A-11F illustrate the independent unit association procedureexecuted by the broadcast controller 180. For example, as shown in FIGS.11A-11F, the broadcast controller 180 may be operable to discover thecontrol devices of the independent unit 4001 of FIG. 5. As describedwith regard to FIG. 5, the independent unit 4001 includes the first andsecond remote controls 4050, 4052, the occupancy sensor 4060, and thedaylight sensor 4070, which may function as commanders. The independentunit 4001 also includes the dimmer switch 4010 and the motorized windowtreatment 4020, which may function as energy controllers. The dimmerswitch 4010 is responsive to the first and second remote controls 4050,4052, the occupancy sensor 4060, and the daylight sensor 4070 and storesthe serial numbers of these commanders in memory. The motorized windowtreatment 4020 is responsive to the daylight sensor 4070 and the secondremote control 4051 and stores the serial numbers of these commanders inmemory. The first and second remote controls 4050, 4052, the occupancysensor 4060, and the daylight sensor 4070 only transmit RF signals, andare not aware of which of the energy controllers which are responsive tothem.

To associate the broadcast controller 180 with all of the energycontrollers of the independent unit 4001 using the independent unitassociation procedure, a user may actuate one of the buttons of thefirst remote control 4050 while the broadcast controller is in theassociation mode. In response to an actuation of the button of theremote control 4050, the remote control 4050 is operable to transmit adigital message including the serial number of the remote control to thedimmer switch 4010. The broadcast controller 180 is also operable toreceive the digital message having the serial number of the remotecontrol 4050 while in the association mode. The broadcast controller 180may then transmit a query message to all of the energy controllers inthe load control system 100 to determine which energy controllers areresponsive to the remote control 4050 (as identified by the serialnumber from the received digital message), i.e., the identity of energycontrollers for which the remote control 4050 may be configured to serveas a commander. In the example of FIG. 11A, the broadcast controller 180discovers that the remote control 4050 is configured to serve as acommander for the dimmer switch 4010 as shown by line 4090. In responseto the query message, the dimmer switch 4010 is operable to transmit adigital message including the serial number of the dimmer switch to thebroadcast transmitter 180. The broadcast controller 180 may thentransmit a query message to the dimmer switch 210 to determine theidentity of commanders that may be configured to command the dimmerswitch 210. In the example of FIG. 11B, the broadcast controller 180discovers that the remote control 4050, the occupancy sensor 4060, andthe daylight sensor 4070 are configured to serve as commanders for thedimmer switch 4010 as shown by lines 4091.

The broadcast controller 180 may next transmit a query message to all ofthe energy controllers in the load control system 100 to determine whichenergy controllers are responsive to the occupancy sensor 4060, i.e.,the identity of the energy controllers for which the occupancy sensor4060 may be configured to serve as a commander. In the example of FIG.11C, the broadcast controller 180 discovers that the occupancy sensor4060 is configured to serve as a commander for the dimmer switch 4010 asan energy controller as shown by line 4092. The broadcast controller 180may then transmit a query message to all of the energy controllers inthe load control system 100 to determine which energy controllers areresponsive to the daylight sensor 4070, i.e., the identity of the energycontrollers for which the daylight sensor 4070 may be configured toserve as a commander. In the example of FIG. 11D, the broadcastcontroller 180 discovers that the daylight sensor 4070 is configured toserve as a commander for the dimmer switch 4010 and for the motorizedwindow treatment 4020 as shown by lines 4093.

Since there are no more commanders to which the dimmer switch 4010 isresponsive, the broadcast controller 180 may now transmit a querymessage to the motorized window treatment 4020 to identity of commandersthat may be configured to command the motorized window treatment 4020.In the example of FIG. 11E, the broadcast controller 180 discovers thatthe second remote control 4051 and the daylight sensor 4070 areconfigured to serve as commanders for the motorized window treatment 320as shown by lines 4094. Because the broadcast controller 180 alreadytransmitted a query message to determine which energy controllers areresponsive to the daylight sensor 4070 (as shown in FIG. 11D), thebroadcast controller 180 may now transmit a query message to all of theenergy controllers in the load control system to determine which energycontrollers are responsive to the second remote control 4051, i.e., theidentity of the energy controllers for which the second remote control4051 may be configured to serve as a commander. In the example of FIG.11F, the broadcast controller 180 discovers that the second remotecontrol 351 is configured to serve as a commander for only the motorizedwindow treatment 4020 as shown by line 4095.

Since there are no more energy controllers that are responsive to thefirst and second remote controls 4050, 4052, the occupancy sensor 4060,and the daylight sensor 4070, the broadcast controller 180 may thenconclude that there are no more energy controllers or commanders todiscover in the independent unit 4001. The broadcast controller 180 maytransmit digital messages to the dimmer switch 4010 and the motorizedwindow treatments 4020 to associate these energy controllers with thebroadcast controller, and then may end the independent unit associationprocedure. During normal operation, the broadcast controller 180 mayreceive all RF signals transmitted by the energy controllers andcommanders of the independent unit 4001. By performing one or more ofthe polling techniques illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11F, the broadcastcontroller 180 may obtain a comprehensive understanding of theidentities of the constituent elements of the independent unit 4001 aswell as the relationships that may exist among the various constituentelements (e.g., commander of an energy controller or an energycontroller commanded by a commander, etc.).

Alternatively, the independent unit association procedure could beinitiated by actuating a button on one of the energy controllers, e.g.,the dimmer switch 4010. In this case, the broadcast controller 180 wouldfirst query the dimmer switch 4010 to discover that the remote control4050, the occupancy sensor 4060, and the daylight sensor 4070 areconfigured to serve as commanders for the dimmer switch as shown by line4091 in FIG. 11B. Then the broadcast controller 180 would transmit aquery message to all of the energy controllers in the load controlsystem 100 to determine which energy controllers are responsive to theremote control 4050 (as shown in FIG. 11A), the occupancy sensor 4060(as shown in FIG. 11C), and the daylight sensor 4070 (as shown in FIG.11D). The independent unit association procedure would continue asdescribed above until all of the commanders and energy controllers ofthe independent unit 4001 were discovered.

In some embodiments, at least two of the one or more energy controllers,which may be respectively associated with two different independentunits, may be arranged into a first group. The broadcast controller 180may be further configured to associate a user-defined label with thefirst group. The user-defined label may be at least one of hallway,conference room, office, executive office, bathroom, open office,signage, limited access, or public area, for example. The broadcastcontroller 180 may be further configured to determine a first condition,where the first condition may correspond to one or more operations ofwhich the one or more energy controllers arranged into the first groupmay be operable to perform. The broadcast controller 180 may also beconfigured to transmit a command signal to the first group addressassociated with the first group. The command signal may be interpretableby the one or more energy controllers arranged into the first group toperform at least one of the one or more operations. The one or moreenergy controllers that may be arranged into the first group may beconfigured to prioritize the command signal over the control signalreceived from the at least one commander. The at least one user-definedcharacteristic may be at least one of a location, a typical occupancylevel, a time-of-day occupancy level, a security access level, afunctional use, or an organizational hierarchy.

In some embodiments, the broadcast controller 180 may be configured toreceive a first signal, where the first signal may indicate a firstcondition corresponding to one or more operations of which the at leastone energy controller may be operable to perform. The broadcastcontroller 180 may also be configured to transmit a second signal to theat least one energy controller. The second signal may be interpretableby the at least one energy controller to perform at least one of the oneor more operations. And the at least one energy controller may beconfigured to prioritize the second signal over the control signalreceived from the at least one commander. The broadcast controller 180may receive the first signal from at least one of an electric utility ora remote control device. The first condition may correspond to more ormore demand response compliance requirements.

The broadcast controller 180 may be further configured to arrange one ormore of the respective energy controllers into a second group accordingto a second at least one user-defined characteristic of the one or morerespective energy controllers. The broadcast controller 180 may beconfigured to assign a second group address to the one or morerespective energy controllers arranged into the second group. Also, thebroadcast controller 180 may be configured to transmit the second groupaddress to the one or more respective energy controllers arranged intothe second group.

The broadcast controller maybe further configured to determine a secondcondition that may correspond to at least one timeclock schedule and oneor more functions of which the at least one energy controller may beoperable to perform. The broadcast controller may also be configured totransmit a third signal to the at least one energy controller. The thirdsignal may be interpretable by the at least one energy controller toperform the one or more functions.

FIG. 12 is a simple diagram of a load control system 900 comprising twoindependent units 910, 912 and a broadcast controller 980 according to afourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 12, thebroadcast controller 980 comprises a user interface having a visualdisplay 985, such as a liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen, and aplurality of buttons 986. The broadcast controller 980 comprisesantennas 990, 991 that are orthogonally oriented with respect to eachother and spaced apart for polar and spatial diversity. The broadcastcontroller 980 may comprise two RF transceivers coupled to therespective antennas 990, 991 (as in the broadcast controller 180 shownin FIG. 7A), or may comprise a single RF transceiver coupled to both ofthe antennas 990, 991 via an RF switch (as in the broadcast controller180″ shown in FIG. 7B). As in the first embodiment of the presentinvention, the broadcast controller 980 is operable to both transmitdigital messages to and receive digital messages from the commanders andenergy controllers of the independent units 910, 912. The broadcastcontroller 980 may be operable to collect and log data from thecommanders and energy controllers of the independent units 910, 912 ofthe load control system 900.

The commanders and the energy controllers of the independent units 910,912 may be associated with the broadcast controller 980 during theconfiguration procedures of each of the independent units. The broadcastcontroller 980 is placed into the association mode in response to theactuation of one of the buttons 986, and repetitively transmits out abroadcast address when in the association mode. While the broadcastcontroller 980 is in the association mode, an actuator on each of thecommanders and energy controllers of the independent units 910, 912 maybe actuated to associate the devices with the broadcast controller. Inaddition to the commanders and energy controllers saving the broadcastaddress received from the broadcast controller, the commanders andenergy controllers each also transmit a unique address to the broadcastcontroller 980, which maintains a list of the commanders and energycontrollers that are associated with the broadcast controller. Thebroadcast controller 980 is operable to store the programming andconfiguration information of the commanders and energy controllers ofthe independent units 910, 912 to provide for easy device replacement.The energy controllers of the independent units 910, 912 could beassigned to one or more of a plurality of groups of energy controllersby the broadcast controller 980.

The broadcast controller 980 is operable to control the energycontrollers of the independent units 910, 912 in response to one or moretimeclock schedules. The broadcast controller 980 may define a defaulttimeclock schedule for each of the energy controllers that areassociated with the broadcast controller in dependence upon the type ofenergy controller and the type of electrical load being controlled. Inaddition, the timeclock schedules may be adjusted using the userinterface of the broadcast controller 980. For example, the broadcastcontroller 980 could display information regarding one or more of theenergy controllers on the visual display 985. The user could stepthrough each of the energy controllers and enable or disable timeclockevents for the selected energy controller using the buttons 986.Alternatively, the timeclock schedules of the broadcast controller 980could be programmed using a program running on a computing device (suchas a tablet, a smart phone, a personal computer, or a laptop) connectedto the network 182. For example, the data of the timeclock schedulescould be loaded onto a removable memory (such as a USB flash drive),which could then be plugged into the broadcast controller 980 to loadthe timeclock schedules into memory on the broadcast controller. Inaddition, the timeclock schedules could be configured using a PC,laptop, smart phone, or tablet connected to the cloud server via thenetwork 182.

FIG. 13 is a simplified diagram of a broadcast controller 1080 accordingto an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The broadcastcontroller 1080 comprises a visual display 1085 and a plurality of groupbuttons 1086. A respective label 1088 and a respective light-emittingdiode (LED) 1089 are located adjacent each of the group buttons 1086.The labels 1088 may note the name of the group associated with theadjacent group buttons 1086. The broadcast controller 1080 is placedinto a group association mode when one of the group buttons 1086 ispressed and held for a predetermined amount of time. One or more of theenergy controllers may be associated with the broadcast controller 1080and may be assigned to the respective group in response to the actuationof an actuator on the energy controller while the broadcast controller1080 is in the group association mode. This association procedure may berepeated for each of the group buttons 1086. A single energy controllermay be assigned to multiple groups of energy controllers. The LEDs 1089may be illuminated to indicate the groups to which an energy controlleris assigned. The use of groups allows the broadcast controller 1080 tobe easily associated with the energy controllers to provide a shortcommissioning time that is required to add the global functionality thatis provided by the broadcast controller. After the energy controllersare assigned to the various groups represented by the group buttons1086, the timeclock schedules of the broadcast controller 1080 may beconfigured on a group-by-group basis. In one or more embodiments, thebroadcast controller 1080 utilizes two orthogonally-oriented antennas1090, 1091.

FIG. 14 illustrates a simplified diagram of a broadcast controller 1180according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Broadcastcontroller 1180 may perform the same or similar functions as thosedescribed for the broadcast controllers 980 and/or 1080. In one or moreembodiments, broadcast controller 1180 may have a visual display (notshown) similar to the visual display of broadcast controller 1180. Inone or more embodiments, the broadcast controller 1180 utilizes twoorthogonally-oriented antennas 1190, 1191.

Referring back to FIG. 12, the load control system 900 further comprisesrespective power meters 990, 992 in each of the independent units 910,912. The power meters 990, 992 may be electrically coupled to measure atotal current drawn by (and thus the power consumed by) the variouselectrical loads of the respective independent units 910, 912. The powermeters 990, 992 may be associated with the broadcast controller 980 andmay be operable to transmit data regarding the total power consumptionsof the electrical loads in the independent units 910, 912 to thebroadcast controller in response to queries transmitted by the broadcastcontroller. The broadcast controller 980 may be operable to store thedata regarding the power consumption of the loads in memory, to displaythe power consumption of the loads on the visual display 985, or totransmit digital messages including the data regarding the powerconsumption of the loads to the cloud server via the network 182. Inaddition, one or more of the energy controllers may comprise internalpower metering circuitry for determining the power presently beingconsumed by the respective electrical load, which can also betransmitted to the broadcast controller 980. Further, the broadcastcontroller 980 may be operable to store other data regarding theoperation of the load control system 900 in memory, for example,occupancy information and status as transmitted by the occupancy sensors260, 360.

The broadcast controller 980 (and/or the broadcast controllers 1080,1180) may obtain information regarding any of the control devices of thefirst and/or second independent units 910, 912. As part of that acquiredinformation, the broadcast controller 980 may obtain status informationand/or operational parameters from one or more of the control devices ofthe first independent unit 910 and/or the second independent unit 912.The status information and/or operational parameters may depend on theparticular control device, but generally may include: battery hoursconsumed, electrical load data (e.g., consumed power, load impedance,open load circuit detection, failed lamp), variable set point tomeasured variable differential (e.g., the difference between thetemperature setting and the measured temperature), contact closurestatus, set point for electrical load intensity, actual electrical loadintensity, ballast status, smoke detection status, occupancy status,shade extension (e.g., shade fully extended, half extended, fullyretracted, and the like), PID status, controller activation status,damper status (e.g., 0%, 50%, 100%, or the like), among others.

In one or more embodiments, as part of that acquired information, thebroadcast controller 980 may obtain (and/or adjust) configurationparameters from one or more of the control devices of the firstindependent unit 910 and/or the second independent unit 912. Theconfiguration parameters may depend on the particular control device,but generally may include: variable set point (e.g., temperature setpoint), contact closure set point, set point for electrical loadintensity, shade extension set point (e.g., extended shade fully, halfextended, fully retracted, and the like), PID parameters, controllerparameters, damper set points (e.g., 0%, 50%, 100%, or the like), amongothers.

In some embodiments, a system operator may use the status information oroperational parameters to determine what control devices of the firstindependent unit 910 and/or the second independent unit 912 may requiremaintenance and/or replacement, for example. Also, the system operatormay configure the one or more configurable parameters of the respectivecontrol devices of the first independent unit 910 and/or the secondindependent unit 912 via the broadcast controller 980. For example, thesystem operator may use a laptop or other computing device tocommunicate with the broadcast controller 980 (for example via a USB,Ethernet, and/or Wi-Fi connection) to interface with the statusinformation, operational parameters, and/or configuration parameters.

In some embodiments, an energy controller may be released from itsobligation to accept (or prioritize) signals or commands from thebroadcast controller over the signals or commands from the energycontroller's commander in a variety of ways. For example, in someembodiments, the broadcast controller may command the energy controllerinto the normal mode. Also by way of example, the energy controller mayrevert to accepting (or prioritizing) its commander's signals orcommands after some time (e.g., predetermined period of time) after thebroadcast controller commands the energy controller to accept (orprioritize) the broadcast controller's commands or signals. Again forexample, the broadcast controller may transmit a “release” message(command or signal) to the energy controller that the energy controllermay interpret as an authorization to resume accepting (or prioritizing)the commands or signals sent by the energy controller's commander. Also,in some embodiments, the energy controller may be configured to resumeaccepting (or prioritizing) the energy controller's commander's commandsor signals after the energy controller finishes performing a function(e.g., a timeclock-based function) commanded by the broadcastcontroller.

In other words, an energy controller may be updated so that the energycontroller may resume accepting (or prioritizing) the commands orsignals from the energy controller's commander via one or more of theaforementioned mechanisms. For example, at a predetermined time afterthe broadcast controller commands the energy controller to perform atimeclock-based function (e.g., the energy controller accepts orprioritizes the command from the broadcast controller to perform thefunction), the energy controller may resume accepting (or prioritizing)the commands or signals of the energy controller's commander.

In some embodiments, one or more methods that may be performed by abroadcast controller to acquire information about the constituent nodes(or devices) of one or more independent units. In one or moreembodiments, the broadcast controller may be in communication with oneor more independent units. Some or each of the one or more independentunits may include one or more commanders and one or more energycontrollers. The broadcast controller may communicate with a first nodeof a first independent unit, where the first node may be at least one ofa first commander or a first energy controller. The broadcast controllermay obtain an address of the first node. Also, the broadcast controllermay obtain from the first node an address of at least one second node ofthe first independent unit. The at least one second node may be at leastone of a second commander or a second energy controller and the at leastone second node may be in communication with the first node. Thebroadcast controller may determine if at least one of the first node orthe at least one second node is an energy controller. Also, thebroadcast controller may identify at least one of the first node or theat least one second node as an energy controller according to thedetermination. Additionally, the broadcast controller may identify atleast one of the address of the first node or the address of the atleast one second node as an energy controller address according to thedetermination.

In some embodiments, the broadcast controller may determine anoperational relationship between the first node and the at least onesecond node. Further, the broadcast controller may determine if thefirst node communicates with a node of the first independent unit otherthan the at least one second node. The broadcast controller maycommunicate with the at least one second node. Also, the broadcastcontroller may determine if the at least one second node communicateswith a node of the first independent unit other than the first node. Thebroadcast controller may determine that all of the nodes of the firstindependent unit have been identified upon the determinations indicatingthat the first node may communicate with no other nodes other than theat least one second node and/or the at least one second node maycommunicate with no other nodes other than the first node, for example.

The broadcast controller may communicate with the at least one secondnode. The broadcast controller may also obtain an address of at leastone third node of the first independent unit from the at least onesecond node. The at least one third node may be at least one of a thirdcommander or a third energy controller. Also, the at least one thirdnode may be in communication with the at least one second node. Thebroadcast controller may determine if the at least one third node is anenergy controller. Further, the broadcast controller may identify the atleast one third node as an energy controller according to thedetermination. Additionally, the broadcast controller may identify theaddress of the at least one third node as an energy controller addressaccording to the determination, for example.

In some embodiments, an energy controller (as described herein) may beoperable to control at least one electrical load in response to acontrol signal received from at least one commander. In someembodiments, the energy controller may comprise a wireless communicationtransceiver. The wireless communication transceiver may be operable toreceive a first signal from a broadcast controller. The first signal mayinclude a request for information regarding one or more nodes of anindependent unit that may include the energy controller. The wirelesscommunication transceiver may also transmit a second signal to thebroadcast controller in response to the first signal. The second signalmay include the information regarding the one or more nodes of theindependent unit. The information regarding the one or more nodes of theindependent unit may include respective addresses of the one or morenodes. And the information regarding the one or more nodes of theindependent unit may include an operational relationship between theenergy controller and the one or more nodes.

Although the present invention has been described in relation toparticular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modificationsand other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It ispreferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by thespecific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

1. A load control system for controlling a plurality of electricalloads, the load control system comprising: a plurality of energycontrollers, each energy controller operable to control at least one ofthe electrical loads; and a first broadcast controller having first andsecond antennas, the first antenna arranged in a first position and thesecond antenna is arranged in a second position that is orthogonal tothe first position, the broadcast controller operable to transmit afirst wireless signal via the first antenna and a second wireless signalvia the second antenna; wherein each of the energy controllers isoperable to receive at least one of the first and second wirelesssignals, and to control the respective load in response to the receivedwireless signal.
 2. The load control system of claim 1, wherein thebroadcast controller transmits the first and second wireless signals atthe same transmission frequency.
 3. The load control system of claim 2,wherein the broadcast controller is operable to transmit the firstwireless signal in a first time slot and to transmit the second wirelesssignal in a second time slot.
 4. The load control system of claim 3,wherein the first and second time slots do not overlap.
 5. The loadcontrol system of claim 4, further comprising: a second broadcastcontroller operable to transmit wireless signals to one or more of theenergy controllers for controlling the respective loads.
 6. The loadcontrol system of claim 5, wherein the first and second broadcastcontrollers are coupled together via a network.
 7. The load controlsystem of claim 6, wherein the second broadcast controller is operableto transmit wireless signals in at least one time slot that does notoverlap either of the first and second time slots.
 8. The load controlsystem of claim 4, wherein the first time slot occurs immediately beforethe second time slot.
 9. The load control system of claim 4, wherein thefirst and second time slots are randomly selected from a number ofnon-overlapping time slots.
 10. The load control system of claim 2,wherein the first and second antennas are spaced apart by approximatelyone-quarter wavelength of the transmission frequency.
 11. The loadcontrol system of claim 1, wherein all of the energy controllers arecontained within an area which is within the range of the wirelesssignal produced by the broadcast controller.
 12. The load control systemof claim 11, wherein the area is about 5,000 to 15,000 square feet. 13.The load control system of claim 11, wherein the range of the wirelesssignal covers a lateral area of from 5,000 to 15,000 square feet. 14.The load control system of claim 1, wherein the first and secondwireless signals both comprise the same digital message.
 15. The loadcontrol system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is fixed inposition and the second antenna may be rotated, the second positionalways orthogonal to the first position as the second antenna isrotated.
 16. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the first andsecond positions of the antennas are 90 degrees apart.
 17. A broadcastcontroller for use in a load control system for controlling one or moreelectrical loads, the load control system having at least one energycontroller for controlling at least one of the electrical loads, thebroadcast controller comprising: first and second antennas; an RFcommunication circuit operatively coupled to the first and secondantennas for transmitting a first wireless signal via the first antennaat a transmission frequency and a second wireless signal via the secondantenna at the transmission frequency; and a control circuit coupled tothe RF communication circuit for causing the RF communication circuit totransmit the first wireless signal in a first time slot and the secondwireless signal in a second time slot.
 18. The broadcast controller ofclaim 17, wherein the RF communication circuit comprises a first RFtransmitter coupled to the first antenna for transmitting the firstwireless signal, and a second RF transmitter coupled to the secondantenna for transmitting the second wireless signal, the control circuitcoupled to the first and second RF transmitters for causing the first RFtransmitter to transmit the first wireless signal via the first antennaand the second RF transmitter to transmit the second wireless signal viathe second antenna.
 19. The broadcast controller of claim 18, whereinthe first and second RF transmitters comprise RF transceivers operableto both transmit and receive wireless signals.
 20. The broadcastcontroller of claim 19, wherein the control circuit is operable toreceive a third wireless signal via the first antenna and a fourthwireless signal via the second antenna in a single time slot.
 21. Thebroadcast controller of claim 20, wherein the control circuit isoperable to decode both of the third and fourth wireless signals and torespond to the decoded signal that is decoded first.
 22. The broadcastcontroller of claim 20, wherein the control circuit is operable todetermine which of the third and fourth wireless signals has a greatersignal strength and to respond to the signal having the greater signalstrength.
 23. The broadcast controller of claim 20, wherein the controlcircuit is operable to combine the third and fourth wireless signals andto respond to the signal having the combined signal.
 24. The broadcastcontroller of claim 17, wherein the RF communication circuit comprisesan RF transmitter coupled to the first and second antennas via an RFswitch, the control circuit coupled to the RF switch for controlling theRF switch to a first position in which the RF transmitter is coupled tothe first antenna and a second position in which the RF transmitter iscoupled to the second antenna, the control circuit further coupled tothe RF transmitter for causing the RF transmitter to transmit the firstwireless signal via the first antenna when the RF switch is in the firstposition and to transmit the second wireless signal via the secondantenna when the RF switch is in the second position.
 25. The broadcastcontroller of claim 24, wherein the RF transmitter comprises an RFtransceiver operable to both transmit and receive wireless signals. 26.The broadcast controller of claim 25, wherein the RF transceiver isoperable to maintain the RF switch in the first position and to receivea third wireless signal on the first antenna.
 27. The broadcastcontroller of claim 26, wherein the first antenna is arranged in a firstposition and the second antenna is arranged in a second position that isorthogonal to the first position.
 28. The broadcast controller of claim17, wherein the first antenna is fixed in position and the secondantenna may be rotated, the second position always orthogonal to thefirst position as the second antenna is rotated.
 29. The broadcastcontroller of claim 28, wherein the first and second antennas are spacedapart by approximately one-quarter wavelength of the transmissionfrequency.
 30. The broadcast controller of claim 17, wherein the firstand second time slots do not overlap.
 31. The broadcast controller ofclaim 30, wherein the first time slot occurs immediately before thesecond time slot.
 32. The broadcast controller of claim 30, wherein thefirst and second time slots are randomly selected from a number ofnon-overlapping time slots.
 33. The broadcast controller of claim 17,wherein the first and second wireless signals both comprise the samedigital message.
 34. The broadcast controller of claim 17, wherein thefirst and second positions of the antennas are 90 degrees apart.
 35. Aload control system for controlling a plurality of electrical loads, theload control system comprising: a first broadcast controller havingfirst and second antennas operable to receive a wireless signal at thesame time, the first antenna arranged in a first position and the secondantenna is arranged in a second position that is orthogonal to the firstposition, the broadcast controller comprising an RF communicationcircuit coupled to the first and second antennas for receiving thewireless signal, the RF communication circuit operable to generate afirst received signal in response to the reception of the wirelesssignal by the first antenna and to generate a second received signal inresponse to the reception of the wireless signal by the second antenna,the broadcast controller further comprising a control circuit coupled tothe RF communication circuit for receiving the first and second receivedsignals; wherein the control circuit is operable to respond to thewireless signal received by the first and second antennas by processingthe first and second received signals.
 36. The load control system ofclaim 35, wherein the RF communication comprises a first RF receivercoupled to the first antenna for receiving the wireless signal andgenerating the first received signal and a second RF receiver coupled tothe second antenna for receiving the wireless signal and generating thesecond received signal.
 37. The load control system of claim 36, whereinthe control circuit of the first broadcast controller is operable todecode the first and second received signals and to respond to the oneof the first and second received signals that is first decoded.
 38. Theload control system of claim 36, wherein the control circuit of thefirst broadcast controller is operable to determine which of the firstand second received signals has a greater signal strength and to respondto the received signal having the greater signal strength.
 39. The loadcontrol system of claim 36, wherein the control circuit of the firstbroadcast controller is operable to combine the first and secondreceived signals and to respond to the combined signal.
 40. The loadcontrol system of claim 36, wherein the first and second RF receiverscomprise RF transceivers operable to both transmit and receive wirelesssignals.
 41. The load control system of claim 35, further comprising: aplurality of commanders operable to transmit wireless signals; and aplurality of energy controllers, each operable to control at least oneelectrical load in response to a wireless signal received from at leastone of the commanders; wherein the broadcast controller is operable toreceive wireless signals from the commanders and the energy controllers.42. The load control system of claim 41, further comprising: a secondbroadcast controller operable to receive wireless signals from thecommanders and the energy controllers.
 43. The load control system ofclaim 42, wherein the first and second broadcast controllers are coupledtogether via a network.
 44. The load control system of claim 35, whereinthe first and second antennas are spaced apart by approximatelyone-quarter wavelength of the transmission frequency.
 45. The loadcontrol system of claim 35, wherein the first antenna is fixed inposition and the second antenna may be rotated, the second positionalways orthogonal to the first position as the second antenna isrotated.
 46. The load control system of claim 35, wherein the first andsecond positions of the antennas are 90 degrees apart.
 47. An RFreceiving device comprising: first and second antennas operable toreceive a wireless signal at the same time, the first antenna arrangedin a first position and the second antenna is arranged in a secondposition that is orthogonal to the first position; a first RF receivercoupled to the first antenna for receiving the wireless signal andgenerating a first received signal; a second RF receiver coupled to thesecond antenna for receiving the wireless signal and generating a secondreceived signal; and a control circuit coupled to the first and secondRF receivers for receiving the first and second received signals, thecontrol circuit operable to process the first and second receivedsignals in order to respond to the wireless signal received by the firstand second antennas.
 48. The RF receiving device of claim 35, whereinthe control circuit is operable to decode the first and second receivedsignals and to respond to the one of the first and second receivedsignals that is decoded first.
 49. The RF receiving device of claim 35,wherein the control circuit is operable to determine which of the firstand second received signals has a greater signal strength and to respondto the received signal having the greater signal strength.
 50. The RFreceiving device of claim 35, wherein the control circuit is operable tocombine the first and second received signals and to respond to thecombined signal.
 51. The RF receiving device of claim 35, wherein thefirst and second RF receivers comprise RF transceivers operable to bothtransmit and receive wireless signals.
 52. The RF receiving device ofclaim 35, wherein the first and second antennas are spaced apart byapproximately one-quarter wavelength of the transmission frequency. 53.The RF receiving device of claim 35, wherein the first antenna is fixedin position and the second antenna may be rotated, the second positionalways orthogonal to the first position as the second antenna isrotated.
 54. The RF receiving device of claim 35, wherein the first andsecond positions of the antennas are 90 degrees apart.
 55. A broadcastcontroller for use in a load control system for controlling one or moreelectrical loads, the load control system having at least one energycontrollers for controlling at least one of the electrical loads, thebroadcast controller comprising: first and second antennas; an RFcommunication circuit operatively coupled to the first and secondantennas for transmitting a first wireless signal via the first antennaat a transmission frequency and a second wireless signal via the secondantenna at the transmission frequency; and a control circuit coupled tothe RF communication circuit for causing the RF communication circuit totransmit the first wireless signal in a first time slot and the secondwireless signal in a second time slot.
 56. The broadcast controller ofclaim 17, wherein the RF communication circuit comprises a first RFtransmitter coupled to the first antenna for transmitting the firstwireless signal, and a second RF transmitter coupled to the secondantenna for transmitting the second wireless signal, the control circuitcoupled to the first and second RF transmitters for causing the first RFtransmitter to transmit the first wireless signal via the first antennaand the second RF transmitter to transmit the second wireless signal viathe second antenna.
 57. The broadcast controller of claim 18, whereinthe first and second RF transmitters comprise RF transceivers operableto both transmit and receive wireless signals.
 58. The broadcastcontroller of claim 19, wherein the control circuit is operable toreceive a third wireless signal via the first and second antennas at thesame time.
 59. The broadcast controller of claim 20, wherein the firstRF receiver is operable to receive the third wireless signal via thefirst antenna and generate a first received signal, and the second RFreceiver is operable to receive the third wireless signal via the secondantenna and generate a second received signal, the control circuitoperable to decode the first and second received signals and to respondto the one of the first and second received signals that is decodedfirst.
 60. The broadcast controller of claim 20, wherein the controlcircuit is operable to determine which of the third and fourth wirelesssignals has a greater signal strength and to respond to the signalhaving the greater signal strength.
 61. The broadcast controller ofclaim 20, wherein the control circuit is operable to combine the firstand second received signals and to respond to the combined signal. 62.The broadcast controller of claim 17, wherein the RF communicationcircuit comprises an RF transmitter coupled to the first and secondantennas via an RF switch, the control circuit coupled to the RF switchfor controlling the RF switch to a first position in which the RFtransmitter is coupled to the first antenna and a second position inwhich the RF transmitter is coupled to the second antenna, the controlcircuit further coupled to the RF transmitter for causing the RFtransmitter to transmit the first wireless signal via the first antennawhen the RF switch is in the first position and to transmit the secondwireless signal via the second antenna when the RF switch is in thesecond position.
 63. The broadcast controller of claim 24, wherein theRF transmitter comprises an RF transceiver operable to both transmit andreceive wireless signals.
 64. The broadcast controller of claim 25,wherein the RF transceiver is operable to maintain the RF switch in thefirst position and to receive a third wireless signal on the firstantenna.
 65. The broadcast controller of claim 26, wherein the firstantenna is arranged in a first position and the second antenna isarranged in a second position that is orthogonal to the first position.66. The broadcast controller of claim 17, wherein the first antenna isfixed in position and the second antenna may be rotated, the secondposition always orthogonal to the first position as the second antennais rotated.
 67. The broadcast controller of claim 28, wherein the firstand second antennas are spaced apart by approximately one-quarterwavelength of the transmission frequency.
 68. The broadcast controllerof claim 17, wherein the first and second time slots do not overlap. 69.The broadcast controller of claim 30, wherein the first time slot occursimmediately before the second time slot.
 70. The broadcast controller ofclaim 17, wherein the first and second wireless signals both comprisethe same digital message.
 71. The broadcast controller of claim 17,wherein the first and second positions of the antennas are 90 degreesapart.
 72. A broadcast controller, the broadcast controller being incommunication with one or more independent units, each of the one ormore independent units including at least one commander and at least oneenergy controller, the at least one energy controller operable tocontrol at least one electrical load in response to a control signalreceived from the at least one commander, the broadcast controllercomprising: a first antenna configured to transmit a first commandsignal to the at least one energy controller; and a second antennaconfigured to transmit a second command signal to the at least oneenergy controller, the at least one energy controller being configuredto prioritize the first command signal or the second command signal overthe control signal received from the at least one commander.
 73. Thebroadcast controller of claim 72, wherein the broadcast controller isconfigured to: assign the first command signal a designated transmissionslot of the first antenna; and assign the second command signal adesignated transmission slot of the second antenna.
 74. The broadcastcontroller of claim 72, further comprising: a first radio; and a secondradio, wherein the broadcast controller is configured to: transmit thefirst command signal via the first radio; and transmit the secondcommand signal via the second radio.
 75. The broadcast controller ofclaim 72, wherein the first antenna is arranged in a first position andthe second antenna is arranged in a second position that is orthogonalto the first position.
 76. The broadcast controller of claim 72, whereinthe broadcast controller is configured to: determine a firsttransmission power for the first command signal; determine a secondtransmission power for the second command signal; transmit the firstcommand signal via the first antenna at or below the first transmissionpower; and transmit the second command signal via the second antenna ator below the second transmission power.